Evangeline 


I. An:,   III  i-,  s  roRN    an  d    in 


ri)i;M 


/'/(/.    /•'-.iith'ii  .ii-   l!i\.    !•  :imiU\l  U<   U-'  'iiin- 

I'l  iR  1  |;K.  ■  >  whi.h  lhi<  i< 
\ir  Ho- 


■:    'l  .'iClv     Ti-.  ,'  L<  r 


EVANGELINE 


Tin-:  PLACi:. Tin:  story  and  the  poem 


v.\ 


I'ROl".  \UA\\    !'(  )K  ri:K 


Willi  \ini:ti:i:x  okic.inai,  ii.i.rsrRAnoxs  r.v 


I'RAXK  DlCKSI'i:,  A.R.A. 


CASsi'i.L,  im:i  ri:K.  (.aepin  x  co 

\i:\V    YORK,   LONDON   AND   I'ARIS 


^l^T    Of    lLLUSTf^ATI0f^3. 


'Wilts    IN     1111-     llVKVhsl     lltAI     MIf     lliiKt     II)    llIK    KKAIVKS    A I     MKiMI|i|r 
Kl.AlidNS    Ml     limu    IlKtWIll    Alt.     All'     JAIK     IX    SlIoTII     «  XS    IIIK    MMllfX." 


'(.'IIISC     Al     MIK     I-'mIII'r's    SIPK    WAS     lilt     (iKXIIt      I'vWi.H.ISK    SK  M  Ml. 
Si'lXMN..    Il W    IHR     IIIK    IIHIM,    THAI     Mool)    IN    T||t     imKNIK    llHIINll    llfK.' 


'  KaIsH)    ai.dH    C'N    a   nil. IMS,     A    IlKA/'tN    SIMIK    nt'    IrsTI.K. 


In  ikifnihv  i  unii-ntion  iiit   mii  min 

I.AIMIKll     \I     KM  II    IlikV    llir,    (IK    INsliilssHI.    M  VMKt  V  KK."' 


Vv    TIIK    MAlKiVSI'    MOVKI)    A     IIMINOIS    SKVCK    IN     IIIK     IMKKVKSS. 

1. 11, Mini    I  FvS    HV     NIK    I.AMf    I  IIAN    IIIK    SlllSlNi.    KAiK    llK    IIIK    MAIDI  N.' 


' Wniion    IS  TIIK  iTHKrHV\Kii, 

WaHKII    IIIK    VdiMKS       " 


Tin  N    ri'KiKK     IIIHR    riHIMvSlllK,    ASH    M'AKK    I  KOM     UIK    SIKIS    ilK    IIIK    AI.TAR, 
lliiI.lUSl.    AIHKI     IS     Ml>    IIVSIIS,     wnil     lis    SIAIS,     IIIK     KIHAl     Hl>l.Ml>SIOS." 


MkvSHIIIIK,    AMIH    IIU     l.KliiM,    liV    TIIK    CTllKcTl,     1aASi.K1.1SK    MSi.KKKH. 


■t'vMI-     IK'IM     IIIK    NKIUllllilMNu     IIAMIII^     \S11    ^\KM^     lilt     A'Al'UN    «1IMIV. 
I'KIMSi.    is     rilSlHUnlS    WAlS-i     IIIKIII     HOI  SK  HOI  11    IIOIUIS     |0     IIIK     SKAilli'RK.' 


■VaISIV     I'.VASOKI  ISK    SIKOVK    huh    WUKHS    and    CAKISSKS    111    illKFK     HIM. 
VvlNIV    OKKKKUl    HIM    I  Ooll  :    VI  1'    IIK    MiOHi    Sol.     Ill      limKH)    Si'T.     IlK    SI'AKK    Sol. 


A  umhRi'Is  i"Mr,  iiiu  was  rumjii  in   AiMmw  iiixrvi'v  ' 


•  l'i((N  IS  tiis  I'MiT  Al   lilt   rRi'H   iiv  riir  m'\r,   riim"  i.nk  »r  no   ,.\s^vrs. 


'MnlMfll    IhlN     HIS    Ill'K-l,     Willi    >ll\l-ll    >M>I'II-      \\l'    MIKKIIs, 
>\l     \    IKKIIVMW.     AKSIMI'    IN    l.Alim-     (\M    lollllM     l'^     litlK>KIV.' 


'  Ml  \V«(III  I',    M'Vkl,    Al    1111     IIHIi   I'l    nil     IIMI,    nil     I'KIFT    AM'    IIIK    llthl'«»M\ 
S»l,    inWJKMX.,    U'l.KrillK    Pi     I  \sr     \Mi    IKI-IM     \\I'    I  1  1 1  h  I .  ' 


(MK    IIIR    Ill-All    nil     -MK-,    nil     lllnli.ius    1^1     i;,i|i    IS     Illf     IIMMS'.." 


hll     sill     iMl  I    ,«n(    Ills    '.Kl  1  N     ASP    W  WIS.,    I  ;  I  MK     IIIR..1  ull     I  III     hlKI-M. 


■  This   is    nu    i,":MN  "lAiiim   niv   vuir  w  \s  iii>.kii.,    ivn   iiii    iivihis. 

Ill  1  -HH'    A I    I  Ull    hi  c.  Ii-Hl  11    MR,    li'K    III  \l     III  IMSH'     1    I'Hl  K," 


III'  '    V»s\    M  ^h^   -III     mil.    .»    \    -l^ll  K   UK    Ml  K.  \  .    (KP.l  I  Mis.. 
I.    SI  l.V    AMI    »M  Ir  I'.l  i.    I;    .il  -     IS     ||i|     ,  K.HM'Ml    1    VSI  ^    ..K     lllh'.:n." 


■   \    us;  1      111      -IK    M       11     S>l     ,      \S1.     l.V   vS    ,1  1  ISI        |>V1   H  IS.,     |ily|l   I      |:|M, 

K;--i;i   (.:.  ili-..   ii:~.    \si.   i  mi.   iii.  hi\ii..s   in  i.   Hir..,>i. 


Evangeline; 


1       I'lAC   I  .     1111      ^  loin  ,    AMI     III  I 


'oi:  M 


1  llii-  m.iiu  ->iiiiiim.r  cxuir^ions  uhiili  arc 
uithiii  <.a^\  rcaiii  of  a  ic^idciU  dI  tin-  \l- 
laiitii  (.oa'^l  nl  llic  I  iiilcil  States,  one  ot  tlic 
most  atliaai\c'  is  a  trip  to  tlic  l'.a\  o\  1  im- 
(1\.  11  \i)U  Icavr  I'urtlaiul,  Maim,  at  i\iii- 
iii;4  i)\  .1  (|uii.kl\  riiiiiiiiii;  stcaimr  lur  St. 
Icilin,  New  Uniiiswitk,  \iiu  will  liiul  muii- 
mH  ill  llu:  iiiiiriiiii;^  skirliii;^  llir  lO'. i^-lll>ull(i 
•uul  iiukiUiil  Kiast  (it  M.iiiU'  on  tlu-  kit, 
with  tin-  ln.^-l ic-.it  .iiul  nnstnious  i^l.nii! 
of  ('.iMiul  Mill. Ill  -iuittiiv^  \ou  ott'  t'rnm 
the  oi-c.in  oil  llu'  ii;^lit.  As  \  ou  sail  oii- 
u.ird,  the  weinl  .md  w  ild-lookiiv^  "  ( juodily 
I  lead"  will  soon  inesiiu  ilselt,  otti  n  look- 
ing out  upon  \<ui  suddenJN  from  the  liall-lit'ted  Ufj;.  \s  \  ou  .ue  dri\en  throU;^h 
the  sliaipK  turnin;..^  ami  oiiiinuusiy  narrow  eh. nine!  which  it  siciiis  to  ;^u.ird,  tlie 
Iol;  hell.whieli  tolls. is  \ou  jiass.  seems  to  lie  e\  er  j^ixin;^  torlli  iiiin;^led  sounds  ol 
warninj;  aj^aiiist  |iossil)le  shijiwreck  and  notes  of  wailin;^  o\er  tlu  unh.ippy  \  ietinis 
of  the  umelentiiv^  sea.  The  exi  itement  ineie.is(.s,  if  \nu  are  .i  sti-.in;.;er,  .is  \  on 
near  l'astport,;-;i\  in:>;  e\ideiK:e,as  it  does  in  its  lolt\  wli.u\es  and  its  loiii.^  reaches 
of  ooze  and  saml,  th.it  you  are  coiniiv^  into  the  region  ol  those  tides  ol  thirt\  or 
fortv  feet  whieh  sou  will  li.u  e  read  of  with  wonder  m  \our  l)o\hood.  .Mmin;^ 
forward  \ou  ol)ser\e  the  wild  hut  attractive  siiores  of  the  isl.ind  of  CaiupobclhK 
ri<;lul\-  ii.uned.  .\s  you  emeii;e  into  the  ( '.reat  Hay  bcNoiui,  you  will,  in  all 
pr  )l)al)ilit\,  feel   \our  wa\    thioui^h  a  hlimlini;  fo;^,  which  as  it  suddeiil)    lilts  or 


lO 


/■::;iiij^f//iii- ;  the  rian\  tin-  >/(>n\  ,iui/  ///.'  /Wm. 


m\^lriiiui>U  (lis,i|t|)i'.ii-'.  will  iiVL.il  lln'  i  it\  nl' St.  |.i|iii  u>  sniii  iuiiiiii>  .m<l 
csiitcil  M^ioii,  \-  \iPii  !.inil.  \iiii  iiMil  \iiiir>rll  in  .i  lui-<\  tnuu,  uliu  li  .it  r\ii\ 
turn  .iiiil  li>'in  r\ir\  nlin't  t  ^ii'^j^i  -t^  llii'  n  iiu  iiilii.iih  c  ul  .i  ^imI.iiihj^  tnw  n  in  Sioi- 
l.iiiil  ii|- tlu  imitli  ot  rni;l.m<!.  llric  ,i-,iin  mui  .ire  n  iniiiili  i|  nt  llicin\>ttr\  nl 
llu  tiili^  .iMil  tlu  ir  in.i;^i>  wnikiii:.;,  \\liili'  mhi  u.iti  h  tin-  iiuMi  ii\t  i  .it  il->  mniilli 
.1^  It  .titiiii.iti  l\  iiii|itii>  it^ill  mtd  till'  li.iii>i>r  li\  .i  tli^iiiulm-  ri|i|i|i,  wliiili 
l)cumu^  ,iliiM->t  .1  |>hm;^i  .i^  it  t.iiU  to  om  i  t.iL  tlir  i.i|iiill\  uitliilr.iu  in.;  lulr.  .mil 
MiliMi|iiintl\  iwcr^f^  till-  imuL^^  wluii  tlu  it  tiiiiim.;  ll.nnl  ichih  >iii  with  .1  lu^ii, 
riiliiri.-  \(>n  lr.i\i  tlu  iil\.  \(iii  will  |iiii|i.iliK  li.ivi'  Imii  tiiii|itiil  to  iii.iki  .1 
lii|i  li\  tlu.'  ri\ii  M  Jnhn  to  I  inKiu  tnii.  the  i.ipit.ilnl  tin  pinv  iiu  c.  ului(  mhi 
v.ill  liiul  OIK  1)1  the  iiiiwt  I'mi-luil  .iiul  .iii  liitn  tiii.ilU  l,i-ttliil  I'loti -^t.int  iliuiJic^ 
on  tlu-  .  untiiiriit.  I.n-i  l\  the  -itt  ot  I  .ii-li>li  liu  luU.  I  \\v  ^n  lu  r\  .iloii,;  tlii>  ii\rr 
i.m  111  no  iiiorr  lor-nttiii  tli.iii  tli.it  nt  llu  liiuUiin,  with  wliuli  it  wi  II  di^ciA  c-^ 
to  III.  niiii|i,iri  .1.  \  uu  Will  till!  I  u|'iin  it^  I  I.m  Is  ^,  m  tlu  n.mu  n|  .it  Ic.i-t  one  ol  it-, 
thrum-  tuwii-.  .1  itiniiulcr  tii.it  |iortion- oi  tin-  .ittr.ii  ti\t' i  oiintr\  wcir  .illotli'd 
til  ms.il  rciu-i.-c.>  tioiii  I  uiiih  I  tu  iit  ihiiiii;;  or  .it  the  iiul  ol  the  w.ir  lor  inil(|n  iiil- 
cncc.  I'liit  wlullur  or  iMt  nhu  iii.ikc  thi>  iai  iir-inii,  Nmi  will  luit  l.iil.  it  mui  .irr 
wi>r.  to  iii.ikc  .1  \i-it  til  Muiuktiin.  mi  thr  «  .rcit  IViul  ul  the  riser  I'rtu  uili.ic. 
tli.it  \oii  m,i\  >n  with  \inir  iiwn  r\r^  tin  tule  iisr  .md  I. ill  -.(vcnts  It  it.  lillmi.^ 
aiul  rm|it\in-  .iltern,itel\  .m  e-tu.iiA  oImhiu;  two  .md  .1  h.ili' mih ->  liio.id  .\t  the 
extreme  eMixnii  -^ee  iiolliin-liut  ,1  liiu.id  e\|i,m-e  i.l'  mi/e  and  -lime.  ii\er  the 
Mirtaee  u\  uhi,  h  i>  >li|,|,m-  tlu'  l,i-t  dr.iiii.i-e  ul  uli.it  w.i-  .m  eiioriiioii-  river,  luit 
whuh  i-m.w  reduied  tu.iwmdin-  ditiliMnn,-  ten  or  tumtv  Uet  in  width.  1 1\  uhuli 
it  seem-  til  111-  .iim|.letelyeiii|itieil.  \,.ii  .ire  ludden  to  li,,,k  lu .rthw.ird.  with 
exiieit.mt    e\e-.  1. 1   .1    tliril    111  the  l..lllk>.  til, It    \  .  .11  IU.l\    (  ,lti  ll  tlu    tn-t  -i-ht  n\    til.' 

Iu.miin-r^:',w/-r.v/mr/-s.it  the  -uellin-.ind  le.i-tK  -  il,,od.  win,  h  wilUu.in  lire.ik 
ii|i.in  \.iur  \ieu.  .sniiutiine-  the  tnremn-t  w.i\e  i-  -,i\  nr  ei-lu  leei  m  liei-hl. 
soiiuimie-  onlv  tw..  or  three,  ,u ,  nrdin,-  l.i  the  uind  .md  uirrent-  upon  the  (.re.it 
\U\  l.elmid  the  hiiU.  uhiJi  .iltern,itJ\  ri-e- .md  l.ilU  with  it>  d.iil\  .md  nightly 
sw.ll.  \,  llu,  hr-i  u.i\e  mine-  into  Nieu,  It  ,.  t.,|!,,ued  iinmedi.itMV  lis  .iiuither, 
and  till-  l.v  .moth,  r,  till  hrn.;  hetoiv  the  luieino-t  li.i-  ,.,me  o\n-  .i.^.iin-t  m,u.  the 
'li.innel.>i,  tar.i-  m.u  ,  .m  di-iern.  i-  hlledwith  ihe-e  lo.imiii;.;  -teed- .  h.i-iiu.;  mu- 
another  w-ith  re-tle-.  and  re-,-tle-  Inry.  .\-  -o„n  a-  the  hottoni  ,,1  the  ,  luimel 
is  'ovi  red  it  -eein-  to  hll  with  inue.i-m^  r.i,,i,litv .  .md  .,t  tiiiu-  to  r,-e  at  the  r.itc 


livini^c/iiic :  flu'  Pltiic,  //if  .s/of}''  """'  f^'*'  /'"'"/ 


II 


of  filtccii  feet  ill  a-,  main  minutes.  Il  is  mily  as  you  follow  this  estuary  down- 
wanl  toward  the  l.av,  and  uat.li  tlusi-  lid<  s,  that  \oi:  tan  understand  their  rela- 
tion to  the  ferliK' ineadou^  u  liu  h  ha\e  been  loriiud  aloiij;  the  inlets  by  the  aid 
of  skilllul  (Kkiii;^;  j.resentinj;  as  lliey  do  a  siiii;iilar  and  striking  contrast  to 
secnerv  ulmli  is  i;enei,illy  roik\  an. I  iiiho-^pitabli'.  As  ym  \ie\v  these  expanses, 
and  tin  n  follow  tluin  into  the  nanow  \all(\s  into  uluJi  llu\  witlulraw  \ou,  you 
faiu\  that  the  earlv  I  rtiit  h  ilisiov  I'rers  -a\e  to  the  entire  re;^ion  the  name 
of  Aiadia,  after  the  Anadia  of  ( .ni  ian  lovelines-,.  And  >it  lo\ely  as  these  sa- 
vannas and  valleys  are,  the  enormous  tides  .md  inho>.|>it.ible  shores  justils  the 
a|i|iell.ition  of  No\.i  Siotia  or  New  Siotland  as  e\cn  more  a|)proi>ri.ile,  .md 
seem  to  h,i\e  destined  il  for  the  im  iip.ition  and  onilrol  ol  .i  h.irdier  race. 

ila\in;^  \isiti'd  St,  |i)lm  .md  the  ( ire.it  I'.eiid,  \ou  will  t.ike  the  steamer  lor 
No\.i  Sioti.i  -either  for  Windsor  .it  its  north-easti'rn  e\tiemil\,or  tor  |)i-b>. 
direitK  o|(posite  St.  John  —  h.uin!^  \oiir  jiort  in  either  lase  aeeordiii);  to  the  tide, 
for  re.isons  whidi  will  i>re-.entl\  .ippe.ir  The  ti.i\eUr  in  this  eountr\  will  more 
thin  ome  be  ri'min<led  ino^t  iinph.ilii.ill)  th.U  time  .md  tide  w.iil  for  no  m.m. 
Should  the  hour  for  s.iilin-  In;  l.ivor.ible,  on  ^oin-  upon  deek  .it  sunrisi',  \ou 
will  find  \oursilf  on  the  norlh-e.islern  side  of  the  ;-;riat  b.^y,  bene.ith  .i  lon,:^ 
ridi^e  of  tr.ip  rotk,  not  unlike  in  .ipi)e.irani  e  to  the  I'.ilis.idi^  on  the  Hudson, 
although  more  ele\.ited,  .md  termin.itin-  .ibruptls  in  Cijie  Hlomidon,  some  1.500 
fett  in  lui-lit.  The  whok'  r.m-e  .illr.uts  the  attention  b\  its  ri'-ul.uit\ ,  its 
boldnes-,,  .111.1  its  elex.iti.m,  beini;  app.irentl\  s^'t  .is  .1  b.urier  .e^.iiiisi  the  iiii-hty 
swell  .if  the  b,i\ .  This  is  speei.ills  true  of  (ape  I'loiiii.lon,  .ir.uind  whose  b.ise, 
.m.l  ih.il  .if  the  l.>ft\  shores  opp.isit.',  \oii  swie|i  ne.U'  en.iui^h  t.i  distiiii^uish 
the  enorm.ius  masses  of  ro.  k  \\lii.h  lie  .it  the  feet  of  both,  whiih  .ire  anon  sub- 
mer!;ed  b\  the  ro.uin;^  llo.id  .md.in.m  exposed,  as  with  anL;r>  lehkt.uue  its  w.ives 
slowlv  .m.l  unwillingly  subside.  i'liis  ri.l-c  is  (^eolo^ieall)  sjx.i.illv  inlerestin.iLi-. 
It  w.is  in  the  fos-,ils  and  minerals  in  this  rei;i.>n  that  one  of  the  m.ist  rem.irkable 
discoveiii's  of  m.idern  l'al(..int.ilo;4\-  w.is  m.ule  b\  .1  vouthful  /e.ilot,  whose  ardor 
w.is  in  this  wa\  direele.l  .m.l  fise.l  in  a  career  of  dise.i\ir\  ami  rese.ir.h  whieh 
h.is  siiue  m.i.le  him  I'minent  in  the  w:\\m  of  seieiue.  This  ri.li^e  is  t.i  us  especi.illy 
intirestinj4  be.ause  behind  .md  aloiiL;  it  stretches  the  \.ille\  which  still  retains 
the  n.ime  of  .\c.idia,  and  which  extends  for  sixty  t.)  ei;.;hty  miles  from  the  li.iy  of 
Minas  on  the  north  to  the  15ay  of  .\nn.i|)olis  on  the  south.     This  valle\    is  thus 


liiuui^i^Jiiif ;  the  riih,-.  t/tf  >/i'ry.  tiihi  the  /Will. 


iM.uinkcl  (111  the  ux'-t  In  llu-  tr.ii.  lul-r  \\1ik1i  i^  a  iKirrirr  .i;^.iinst  tin.' -m.m,  ,iiul  ri^fs 
t^r.ulu.illv  tdwanl  the  «.a>t  into  the  ^harpan.!  impidiiiKtu  e  nn  k-ol  thr  |H'iiiii-uIa. 
ll  ciMi>i^t>  o\  two  \allL\^,  ralhiT  than  unc,  aii^l  i-.  walcinl  l'\  ihi'  Iwu  rivers  ami 
their  tnliutarie^  niiinm-  resiiectixels  tn  the  iiorth-ea^t  aiitl  s()uth-\\i->t  ;  tlic  t  la--- 
|iereau\  emptx  iiil;  intu  the  \U\  nl  Mina-^.  an^l  the  \nna|HiH^  ein|it\  iiil;  into  tlie 
\U\  (it  AmiaiHih-  l-ach  o\  the-e  \alle\s  expaiuN  iiitu  the  unK'  !nea(Ki\\s  uhiili 
tur  ai^es  ha\e  liecii  (le[nl^ite>l  li\  the  tnle^,  aiul  •-(eureil  li\  the  patient  toil  ot  ;^eii- 
eratuuis.  Ihe-^e  are  luntlereil  li\  |iietl\  aiulxaiied  sIhik-,  in  whuh  the  darl.  and 
pdinteil  spruce  i--  abumiant,  loniiiii;^  snikiiv^  eonti'.ists  wiili  the  de^  nhinus  Inresl 
trees,  uhieh  are  nut  i  iitireK  al)--ent.  In  th.e  lieautilnl  and  \aried  hinds(.a]ies 
which  delii^ht  the  tra\eler.  the  s|Meadni;^  meadow^.  Iiroun  and  ;^reen  with  th(  n' 
alunulant  ha\  and  oat  trops,  .ue  loiispitUdUsU  pinnunent.  Now  and  th(  n  lie 
will  disurn  an  e\len^i\e  tield  .ui^ni;^  proniisf  ot  a  ndi  haiACst  ol  the  cslu- 
lent  whiJiis  here  so  exLelleiit  and  sn  rew.n\linu;.  aiiil  was  lornierK  esteemed 
as  the  pride  ot  this  re;;ion.  The  elm.  as  we  should  ixpeU,  Hit-  its  stalcK 
and  i^racelul  top  now  and  then  alom;  the-e  rkh  alhuials.  litre  and  tlu  re  a 
l)air  ot'  poplar-  remind  u-  that  Ion-  a-o  s.iplm-s  \ure  lirou-ht  h'om  suniu 
I'rance.  and  \ery  otteii  a  -narled  mo-— -row  n  willow  carrie-  u-  haik  to 
a  ceiituiA  and  a  hall  a-o.  wIrh  a  twi-  wa-  eaiehilK  |ilanted  on  the  rude 
home-tead  ot  a  hoine-ick  settler,  whidi  he  had  months  hetore  eut  Irom  m\ 
old  and  well   remembered  tree  on  the  coast  ol'  I'.rittans, 

It  is  well  known  th.it  this  fertile  an.l  -heltered  \alle\,  lo-i  ther  with  the 
spreadin-  meadow-  whiJi  are  -tretdied  aloii-  it-  opemn--.  tir-l  reieived  the 
name  Acadia,  which  wa-  -ub-e.iuentl\  I'e-tored  to  it-  ori-inal  po— cs-or.  It  i-  a- 
miportant  to  remembu-  that  m  the  earlie-t  time-  Auidia  not  oiiU  designated 
the  eiilire  pemn-iila  iiou  known  .„  \,,\a  S.otia.  but  wa-  ,ds,,  applied  to  the 
ea-l(rn  porli,,ii  of  the  pre-ent  prosm.e  ,,i"  W-u  llrmi-wuk  and  the  adiac  ,nt 
beautiml  i-land-  in  thr  (,ull  of  St.  I.aureiue.  1  he  more  lertile  portuui-  of 
this  iv-i.,n  were  settled  m  the  early  part  of  the  -eNenteeiilh  century  b\ 
a\ervlew  u>loni-t,  fn,ni  I  raiue,  t.i  whom  llie\  became  doubl\  attractive  from 
the  ncarne--  of  the  o\crllowin-  fi-hiii-  -round-  whuh  -o  earlv  and  so 
Ion--  made  the  .  o,,-t,  the  harbor-,  and  tlu;  adja.enl  province-  the  coveted 
pri/e-  of  m:m\  a  de-puate  adventure  and  hard  lou-lit  and  bl<,odv  e.,n- 
te-t.     A-   thr   New    l.n-land   ,,,l,,me-   were    -radually   settled,  and   became   the 


livivigcliiic ;    tlic  riaci\  llic  Story,  ami  the  /Win. 


13 


lionic  of  a  population  wIu'lIi  rejoiced  in  fisheries  and  coiiimcrcc,  the  mastery 
ol'  ihc^c  I'lsliiii;^  ;^r(iiind>  and  the  eountiA  adjoiniii;^  stiimilatcd  tlic  lav^li^h  to  a 
idiistant  and  jealous  ri\alr\,  wliiJi  was  inten^itled  \)\  niauilohl  aiUaL;oiii>iiis 
ol  race  and  reli;_;ioii.  I  lenej  tlie^e  lands  of  beaut)'  antl  of  promise  be- 
came a  dark  .md  blood\  ;^round,  and  the  shores  and  ;<ulfs  which  now  teem 
with  joNous  lite  weie  often  the  sceius  of  \iolence  and  terror,  il  not  ol  piracy  and 
outi"a;,4e.  'liiese  conti'oxersies  wei'i'  intensified  dui'iiii;  the  fii'st  hall  of  the  ]iast 
centur\ ,  when  I'Jii^land  and  I'rance  were  en;^a;4ed  from  time  to  time  in  those 
des|)eiat(.'  wars  lor  the  control  of  \orth  America,  in  which  the  dominion  of 
the  Northern  waters  in  anil  about  the  (iulf  of  St.  Lawrence  seemed  to  be 
the  prize  wliii  h  was  so  bitteily  contested,  but  the  ;^'ain  or  loss  of  which  went  far  to 
determine  the  (pusiion  which  of  these  n.itioiis  should  control  the  lakes  ;uid  the 
valle_\s  of  the  .Missi>-,ippi.  With  the  strifes  and  jcdousies  of  lliis  halfcentur\, 
the  fortunes  and  Lite  ol  the  unhapp\-  colonists  of  .\o\a  Scotia,  which  are 
the  theme  oi  our  pathetic  poem,  were   ino>t  intiniateU'  connected. 

'l"o  understand  ;uid  appieciate  the  ])oem  of  lAaiv^eline,  one  needs  not 
onh  to  lie  made  acquainted  with  the  geographical  features  of  the  country  in 
which  it  is  ])kiced,  but  to  trace  the  t^rowth  of  the  peo])le  whose  unhap|)y  fate 
il  depicts  to  the  ima;4ination.  The  ])oem  is  not  merel\'  a  |)athetic  recital 
which  mo\es  oin^  tenderest  sympathies  and  inculcates  the  noblest  lessons 
of  tlut\'  and  faith  ;  it  also  re|)roduces  with  \arietl  intensitv  a  tragical  pic- 
lure  of  our  |)ast  national  hislor\  ;  and  as  such  it  is  fittetl  to  instruct  us,  if 
we  intcrprel  it  ari;_;ht,  res|)ectin;4  the  i)itter  and  coslK  e.\])eriences  oul  of 
which  i)Ui' |irescnt  |>olitical  and  ci\il  blcssiiv^s  ha\e  been  secured;  while  il  also 
inculcates  the  most  salutar\-  lessons  in  respect  to  the  harsh  judi;nients 
which  we  are  often  too  ready  to  jironounce  ujion  those  whose  aationalit\ 
or  whose  faith   iua\'  ililler  from  our  own. 

It  is  i^eneralK'  conceded  that  the  bai^lish  were,  in  a  certain  sense, 
the  hrst  discoverers  of  North  .\merica,  inasmuch  as  one  ol  the  C'abots 
laiuled  upon  this  continent  belore  I'olumbus,  and  touched  here  ;md  there 
upon  its  coasts,  from  Labrador  to  Florida,  as  early  as  1498.  In  1504, 
a  lew  I'rencii  fishermen  cast  their  lines  u])on  the  Ikmks  o\  Newfoinulland. 
In  1534,  lacques  Cartier  saileil  throu;..;h  the  dulf  of  St.  Lawrence,  and 
touched     upon    the    principal     inlets     on     its    western      waters,    as     the     ri\er 


14 


Evailgc/iih' ;    the  riaa-.  the  Story.  aiiJ  the  /\u 


III. 


Mir.miiJ 


111.    ihc    l;.i\.   oi    (.lukur  .iihl   C.i^pr,    uiil„,iit    li,,\\c\rf   iiitcrm,-     ..r 
di^cunn.;    the   ,^,v.it    n\c,-    1.a,uu1.       In    a    ^.m,,!    rv,..l,n.,n.    ,„a,l..    ,h.. 
y.ai-  lollouni;..!,.  a..r,uIol   the  St.   L.mrcur  and  tlu-   Sa:.unm .  an.l   na.licl 
L'ud.x   a„>l    Montival.      Tlu-   s.ar   .ulluu,,,.    ,h,.   ,„,!,,    ,,.,„,„    ,,,,   j,,„„^,,, 
I'v  th.  l^v.ul,   inula-  tlu-  nan,,   lana.la.  an,l  a.   muI,  ua>   .l,M,n,^u,du-,l    tn.,n 
Acul.a,  uhuh  lu.l  lurn  pi-cvuui>lv  appHol  to  tlu-  wu.ntru.   K,n.    ,,n   thr   Hav 
'"■  I^u'hK   an.l  tlu-  ^uH;      In    .3.VX  a  uun,,anv   ot    l,„n,l„n    nur.hant-   uu,  r.d 
an<l    explore!    the   (iulfo,   St.    I.auren.e.      In    .3:-:.   >n-    Ihnnphn.     ,„ll.e,t 
a   l.rolhe,--n-lau    of    Sn-   Walter     K,.le,^h.    unne    u  „h    t,Ne    v...,U     to    N.u- 
•-^•■•^11''">1    to    take    ,orn,al    po,....,,,,,    ,„    Uu-    -an.e    .or    the    Oueen    o,    In^- 
'"^''•''"'     ^"    ^•^^•"'''^''    •'-'"">•       A.    ^et    no   attempt  luul    luen    nuule    u. 

''""''•  ''"  ^"""^'■>'  •"•  ">^-  I--t  '"■  -tlur  Hn,lan>l  or  lran,e,  an,l  vet 
'""-"    '"^'"'1     th,rt^-t^^o    ^...d.    K,„.     ,„     „,^.     ,,_,,.,„„^    ,,,     ^_     ^^^^^^^^     ^^;^^ 

'"""''"'•  ""  "^^^'-'"^  ^'-  —  ^1—'.  -KhM.dv  that  the..  re..u.n. 
^""  •''""'  ^''"""'-'""^  '•-'■■•^-'  ^"  '-■  '-1'  an,l  pdtr^.  H,,  atten.pt  o, 
'.""  """''""^  "  ^"-^  ''  --'—  I--'l  a  ,a,lnre.  ,n  .on..,,nen.e  o, 
'':  :'"""^'>  ''^•''''-  "•  '30H.  Ilenrv  IV.,  o,  1  ranee,  .„,.,,  ,  ..,,.,„,  ,, 
^■""""•'"^  "■'  "-—  ^'-to,  No.a  ..ot,,u  luu  u„h  no.ucee./  ,t 
■^  ^^"'■'"-'  ■"  -■'•"■^  ^'-^  ^^••"^  ^1-  evulenee  i.  ..peral .nulant  that  the.c 
"'"'■;    '''''    "^"'■^^''    ^"   ''>■    '•^•-■-"    -    .-at   nnn.her.    there    ,.     no    ree- 

;"'  "; '': '-' '  '-^'^  -  ----^  -'-  -^-  .^n..  .3..  to  ..o. 

T  ""■"    ^^^'-^     "-'^--'^    --    -nl-nee    of   .u....,    ,.    ,,,,. 

^~"  ^'   ^■••-^^  1"-  •'■"'   ->••">•  at   Ta,,on.u,  at    the   nu.uth   o,   the   Sa.uenav 

■e  :■.;■■  '''■'"•^^^^-       *""^'-----'.^nuere.„,,atl..a 

o  .::';■  ""'■  ^^^';  ^-"^  -  ■'■•"'--^    -  .'■■•-^^-    U.    tnr  tra„e, 

eon,p. ,.:  :;;:r'' "''^  ^''' --"---..-„...,., 

.,.„,..;.' "V"'--"-    •■'— ^"''-l.    "n,ht    l^deete...       The 

^^'"" ^'''•'^'•'^■■— -'-"•-   --a,l   to...   Uu.„ttlee .h 


Evangeline ;    ilic  l\.ici\  the  Story,  and  the  Poem.  15 

uliicli  carries  him  hack,  if  not  to  tlic  first  attempts  at  colonization  in  Can- 
ada l)v  the  I'rcncli,  at  IcaNt  to  a  very  early  period;  a  pcrioti  so  early  that 
an  eilitice  lari;e  eiioiij^h  for  the  inhabitants  would  accommodate  no  more  than 
some  tliirlN  to  till)  \vor^hi|)ers.  After  ^lmdr\•  iaiidin^fs  and  adventures,  the 
two  ve>sels  laden  with  colonists  entered  the  i^iy  of  Tundy,  and  weri 
soon  introduced  to  the  noble  bav  now  known  as  the  Mav  of  Anna|)olis,  at  the 
south  end  of  the  \ale  of  Acadia  ahead)  described,  which  was  first  known  as 
the  harbor  of  I'ort  l\o\al,  and  subse(|uentlv  became  the  scene  of  manilold 
sies^es  ami  mass.icres  for  almost  a  century  and  a  half;  beini^^  taken  and  re- 
taken b\  ;i  succession  of  ad\enturous  and  Ki^itimale  re|)resentatives  of  the 
two  j^reat  jiowers,  who  contended  for  the  supremacy  ovei  its  waters  and 
the  adjacent  lands.  After  making;  a  satisfactory  reconnoisance  of  this  deli;^ht- 
fiil  spot  ('ham|)lain  lra\ersed  the  coast  of  the  (.neat  French  Hay,  as  the  Hay 
of  b'uiuK-  was  called,  and  made  a  minute  record  of  its  wonderfid  ieatures. 
The  colony  at  I'ort  Royal  was  not  fairly  bei^un  until  1606,  antl  it  suffered 
manifold  fortunes  of  e\il,  ;dthouL;h  contriving-  to  maintain  a  precarious  existence  ; 
as  it  became  the  |)ri/ce  of  successi\e  ^reetly  ad\  Uurers  who  contrivctl  to 
j^ain  confiictin;,;'  titles  from  the  imperial  court.  K  was  also  now  ami  then 
occupied  b\-  cl.'iimants  uiuler  the  lini;iish  crown  or  some  commercial  com])any. 
Or  a^ain  it  was  assailetl  by  some  half-pirate,  and  less  than  half  Puritan,  from 
the  risini,'-  New  Hn,u;l,uul  colonies.  It  is  not  surprisin-  that  Acadia  itself 
passetl  to  and  fro  like  a  football  from  l"rance  to  Ijv^land  antl  from  Hn;^land 
to  I'rance,  as  the  fortunes  of  war  or  the  chances  of  a  treat)'  mi<;ht  decide. 
Its  western  boumlary  was  also  uncertain,  whatever  nuL^ht  be  the  luunls  into 
which  it  happeneil  to  fall.  The  chivalrous  fortunes  and  the  romantic  adven- 
tures of  the  I, a  Tours  which  mo\ed  the  s\nipathies  and  tested  the  diplomacy 
and  vexed  the  consciences  of  the  Puritan  mai^istracy  of  Massachusetts  Hay, 
anil  almost  tempted  the  Plymouth  Colonists  to  what  were  ver)-  nearl)-  acts 
of  freebootinj4",  cannot  here  be  reciteil  without  withdrawini;-  our  thoutjhts 
too  far  from  our  theme.  We  should  \\o\.  omit  to  notice  that  the  western 
bountlary  of  Acadia  was  also  in  dispute  between  Hiv^land  and  France,  or 
rather  between  the  several  trailing;  companies,  or  the  "  Lieutenant-ricnerals  " 
of  one  country  or  the  other,  who  were  constantly  strugsj^lin;^'  with  each  other 
for   the    prizes   which  promised  so  much  in  the  future.     The    Penobscot   river 


l6  I'.vniii^r/inc ;    flic  P/iicr.  fin-  Sfi'rv.  aiui  flic  /Win. 

u.i>  in  a  (.rrtaiii  M.'n>c  .ici|uiL>i,i.(l  in  r.itlur  ih.ui  a;^n.'c>l  upon  a-^  llii--  li.um>lar\ 
line  lor  the  liiiu\  iiiuil  lav^laiiil  aihl  l'ian«.(.'  sliouKl  liiialix  ^i.n\v  tlu'  <iui-^lii'M 
by  the  >ti.Tn  arliitraiiunt  ol  war,  wliuh,  a--  \\a^  1m]iiiI,  nii;^ht  aUi>  ilrti  iinmc 
the  mntrol  nl'  the  entire  eoast  iVuni  l.alirailor  to  Morula.  We  (iui;ht  not  to 
omit  to  notiie  the  taet  tliat,  a^  the  New  l-.n-lan<l  eolonie->  l)eiaiiu'  --trniv^er 
ancl  more  >elt-rel\  iii;,,  th^'  Aeaihan  eoa-t-'  iieeaiue  more  interesting  to  them 
a>  >eLiies  of  a.Keiiture  and  a^-  ol))ei.t>  ot'  tear  aiul.  |Kiha]>-',  a^  |ios-,il)lc  jiri/e'^  ot 
wai.  I'liouu'h  the  1-i'tneh  eolonie-  ]iio|ier  were  u>ntem]'t!lil\  interior  to  tho->e 
in  New  lav^laml  in  yoww  of  wealth  or  number--  or  militar\  prowL^s,  \  <  t,  b\ 
reason  o\  the  eoinmaiulin;^  position  of  their  well  ])Kueil  fortresses  aiiil  well 
chosen  jHirts,  their  lew  and  scattered  forces  eould  suei.es>full\  |'re\  upon  the 
New  l-n-iand  tisluruKn  and  efleaually  lontrol  the  aeeess  of  iho  latter  to  the 
St.  l.aureiKe.  .Above  all.  by  their  Lommand  of  this  riser  the\  were  able  to 
maintain  ready  eoinmunie.ition  with  tlios^  Indian  tribes  whuh,  from  No\a  Scotia 
to  the  t>hio,  traversi'd  tiie  foists  and  oeeupied  the  la-tnes.rs  in  the  rear  of 
the  b.n-lish,  and,  on  ,in\  oceasinii  of  w.irbetweiu  theiiischrs  and  the  loloiiies, 
or  between  l.n-land  and  I'lMiUe.  eould  be  emplo\ed  with  tuaitie  effect ;  ,is 
mail)  a  new  settlement  in  forest  ,,]■  -stream  nr  lo\el\  \ale  unild  tcstil),  in  its 
records  ol  cruel  ambusi.ide  and  ni.;!itl\    buriiin-. 

Those  Indi.uis,  whom  the  ireULli  .ontrolled,  li,id  als,,,  i,.  a  i  oiisider.ible 
extent,  been  Lonverted  to  ilu:  Ri.mish  f.utli,  and  were  tliiis  bound  more  tirmlv 
in  allKince  to  l-nuKe.  I'.ut  whether  (  hristi.m  .,r  i'a-.m,  the\  became  l.u'-elv 
the  n.ilur.d  enemies  of  the  lai-li^h  eoh.nists,  and  coiild  e.isilv  be  .iroUsed  to 
sudden  and  cruel    .itt.uks  bv  imUiences  frnin  both   i.,.uisbur;^  and   Ouebec. 

In  the  vear  1713,  the  first  .i.t  w.is  ,,,,ened  of  the  dnim.i  with  which  we 
are  immediate!)  concerned.  In  that  n  e.u'  the  Treaty  of  Itro  ht  was  Muuliidcl 
after  a  contest  which  had  Lonlinued  for  ne.irlv  twentv  _\e.irs,  with  ,1  sinok- 
interruption.  With  this  treats  br.,„i  tho.e  troubles  and  dilliailties  wliuh 
termimite^i  in  the  expuUi<m  of  the   A..,idians  from   their  lioiiu.-   in    175:^. 

These  e\ent^  unera  peri.Ml  ,,f  .irile  and  anxiets  ot  more  tli.iii  lorts  sears. 
I'.v  thi-  treaty  •'all  N.,sa  .S.,,t,a  or  .\cadia  comprehended  witlmi  its  anuent 
l-midaries,  as  abo  th,;  eitv  ot  P,„t  R,,sal  now  called  .\nnapol,s,  uas  vielded 
t-  '-.re.it  Ifntam.  lUit  as  to  uhat  tlie.e  "ancient  b,,und,me,  a>  tualls'"  e.un- 
prehended,'  the  parties  disagreed,  bu^land  elaimm^   that  .\c,ulia  embraced  all 


Evangeline ;    the  J''iuee,  (he  Story,  niu/  the  Poem.  17 

tlic  tcnitorv  last  of  a  line  iliaun   from  tlic  moiitli  of  tlic  Kciincbcc  to  (  Hichcc, 
iiuliidin^  the  sduth  shoir  of  the  St,  LaureiKc,  I'liiuc  Ijluanl  I^huul,  aiul  (ape 
Breton,  ami   I'raiue  tlial   Aea^lia  only  incliuhjd  the  soiitlurii   haU'  of  tlu-  ]Kniii- 
sula   of    N(i\a    Scotia.      ( )ut   of   tliis    (h^a^reemeiit    proceeded    a    loii;4    train  of 
tonlhets.   in  o])en  and  secret  hostility  whith   were   not  fnii--hc:d   till   the  ca.ptiire 
of  (  )iiei)e(    in    1759,  which   |)Ut  an   end   to  th  •   intluence  of    I'rance  in    America. 
It  i-^  important  to  ki'e])    di-^tincll\     in    mind    that    it    wa^    onl\    lour  years 
before  thi--    e\ent,  .it  the    time  when  the    slrile  lor  tiie  possession  ot  this  con- 
tinent \\a>  ri'achin;^   its  crisis,  that  the  e.\|iulsi()n  ol  the   Acadians  was  resoKcd 
upon    and    partialK     cairied    into    effect.     'Ihi^    was    in    the    \ear   1755,  at  the 
openin!^  of  the  hnal    ^trii'.^!.;le    for    the   jiossession  of    North    .\nierica,  between 
I'rance    and    lai^land.      The  expulsion  of  these  colonists  was  the  only  one  of 
four    important     measures    attem])ted     by     the     lin^iish     j^overnment    at     the 
opeuiii'^  of  the   war,  which   was  crowned   with  success — and,  indeed,  which  was 
not   in   some    sense  a  failure.      The    three    other    measures  were,  the  attack  on 
Iiirt  du  (  >ue-^ne  l)\    I  ieneral  l'>raddock,  an   attem])t  on  the  Ibrt  at   Niai^ara,  and 
an   e\])edition    a;^ainst  Crown    Point.     .\  crisis    was    felt  to  be  a])|)roaciunL;   for 
Acailia    itself      The  remo\al  of   the   so-called   "  I'rench    Neutrals"  was,  not  so 
much  a  deliberate  measure  tif  state  policy  which  looked  to  remote  conse(piences, 
as  a  boUl  and    almost   des])erate    act    in  a  fuial  strui;!j,le    lor  the  possession  of 
the  entire  territor\,  in  wiiich  a  |)romiit  and  decisive  blow  was  suj)posed  to  be 
iiu]ierati\ely   required. 

The  im])ortance  of  this  act  as  a  necessity  of  war,  can  be  a])preciatetl  onl\ 
as  we  vi\idl\  conceive  the  condition  of  the  ])ro\ince  at  the  lime  when  it  was 
ado])ted,  .is  this  is  explained  In  the  histor\  of  the  forty  years,  which,  .1^  we 
iia\e  already  said,  bcj^an  with  the  ])eace  of  I  trecht.  Inimetlialel\  on  the 
cession  of  .Acatli.i  b\  this  treat\-,  but  contrar),  as  it  woiilil  seem,  to  its  natural 
interjiretation,  I'rance  proceeiled  to  aiipro])ri.ite  to  ilscll  the  whole  ol  Prince 
lulward  Island,  the  northern  |)art  of  No\a  Scotia,  borderiiic;  on  the  C.ulf  of  St. 
Lawrence,  and  the  Island  of  (ape  Hreton.  P)\  this  occupation  she  secured  to  her- 
self the  commantl  of  the  direct  ai)proaches  to  the  ( ".ulf  and  the  River  St.  I  .aw  rence, 
which  invohed  the  command  of  the  fisheries,  and  almost  necessarily  the  access  to 
Canada.  To  secure  to  herself  the  utmost  of  these  ad\antac;es,  she  jirocecdeil 
without  dela\  to  construct  the  fortress  of  Louisburj;,  on  the  Islaml  of  Cape  Hretcn, 


i8 


J:viiiii,r//iir ;    the  rUicc,  the  Story,  iiiiJ  tJie  JWiii. 


at  .III  iii(iniuui->  I'xiicn-M.'.  So  mioh  .i>  tlii>  ^Irniv^luiKI  \\.i->  iiritrd,  it  lni.imc 
an  iiliint  of  alarm  to  \\\v  ciiliic  \i  u  liv^laiii!  ioa>t  iint  nun  1\  lor  the 
ilaii;;(.r  with  whiili  it  thiiatt  lud  it^  I'l-hiriiun.  lnit  lioati-r  it  ua^  n^^aichil 
a^  ail  aihiiiialik'  jiLui-  ot  ritu:;i.'  ami  iK|iaitun-  lor  am  Iiiiu  li  lit  <  t  whuii 
ini;^ht  he  tittcil  mit  lor  the  (K --triktioii  ol  i'.n-'ttin  .u-  am  oilu  r  ol  ihr  I  a->t'in 
]iort>.  So  .-oiMi  a--  it  \\a^  rim^linl,  it  was  it'^anKil  with  almo'-t  -^iiini-^ti'ion-. 
tLiTor,  TIk'  ilarm^  aiul  .ilmusi  mmantii  i\]ii'ilition,  wliiJi.  iii  1745.  was 
arraiv^cJ  tor  it-^  ik-tiuilioii,  wa>  |ilaiiiu>l  and  cMcuti'l  li\  \rw  1  n^laihl 
patrioi-,;  ami  wIkii  the  luw-^  ol'  it--  -iiii\'mKr  wa-  1  Mniimmi.  alo.l  thioU'^li  the 
New  i-ai-laml  puliiit>,  the  coii-ii'-ation-  -|Minlam'.ui,l\  uttricl  tluii'  tliaiik-.- 
;«;i\in-->  m  ihr  nid-t  iuhilaiit  --tram--  whi^h  the  uhl  I'aMe  aihl  I'-aliii  liook 
uiuKl  Uinii-h.  W  lull.  aKo.  -o.-ii  alur  thi>  r\»iU  a  loriimlalilc  aiiuaila  was 
titled  (lUl  to  reeoxcr  the  l(>rtre~->,  ,ui.l  |i|-o1m1i|\  to  imadc  the  Nrw  I  ii-Iaml 
Iiort--,  aii.l  tliis  \\a>  -uittered  li\  a  rii-i\r  tem]ir>t,  their  weir  no  wonU  wliuh 
eouKl  express  the  m  n>e  nf  the  -reatiu  >^  ,,|'  the  ,laii-.  r  lioiii  wliuh  the  I'li-li^li 
eoloiii-~t>  ha.l  been  ileli\rre.l.  The  Mattenii;^  ol  ihi^  ih  rt  ua-  re-arded  a^  a 
-i-iial  an-\\.;r  tn  the  united  and  Ki\ent  piM\ei-  >A  all  tin  Nrw  j-.n-i  I 
eluirJie-.  dlie  niorniuatinn  and  ,ha-iin  m|'  the  K.loni^i^  wric  (Mnnu-  when 
-nun  after  i.iaii^hui-  wa-  re-tm-ed  tn  |a-an.e  li\  the  treat\  .-f  .\i\  I  .a  l  hainllc. 
t)ver  a-am-t  thi>  lortre-s  on  tlu;  north  Mile  nf  the  peniiiMila  <if  No\a  Scotia, 
ain.in-  and  mar  it>  111.1-1  u  rtiK-  pnrtiMn-,  were  -<  ttted  the  A.adian  popidatioii, 
M,inc  8,000  tu  lo.ooo  in  all,  ln-ule.  thr  l.u  hundred  iie.tr  ,\nn,i|..,li-,  the 
inajorit\  i.ein-  in  near  \ieinii\  ,ind  within  rr,i,l\  a.  >e-.  t<>  I  .oui-lmi-,  the 
'■^'ll.  .I'l'l  (  an,ida.  IheA  wn-tituird  nr,,rl>  tin  uh,,le  ,a  the  hxid  iH.pulatMiii 
-f  N-\a  so.tia  wh,,  uiltixated  the  .,,1!.  iV-ide--  the  .niall  -.irri-.ni-  of  I'nrt 
k.'xal  ,nid  Il.ilhax,  and  pivvinu.  i,,  174;,  tluiv  h,.d  nm  heeii  iimre  than  a 
''■''  '''"i'I'-"l  in  ail  iht  ].,ninMila  niSw.t.h  ..r  iaiji-h  de-t.nt,  in  1747  a 
l'.i;f  niilitar>  ,,,l,,nv  ,.f  2,300  snnU  had.  |„_vn  .eitud  ,,t  llalilax,  hm  it  li.id  a. 
>et  -eanely  -irir.l.  ,t-  n,nt-  into  the  mmI.  1  imin^  tlu-  iiit.rsal  ol  thirtv  v  ears 
I"'''''"'^  ^"  ^''■^-■•'  "'-^^  :^nieraiiwn  uf  liMi.h  dr..  ,nl  h.i.l  l-.vii  l..,rn,  w  ho  ha.l 
I'ra.ti.a'K  n,:ar.kd  tluni>eK..  a-  the  -,,le  ,,„-,M-.,,r-.  1,^  ...  ui|,at,.,n,  .,f  this 
a>  tludr  natlvr  ...untiN,  and  h,i.l  l,,,  ,1  mIi.m.IoI  and  tr.nne.l  to  tlu  nu,.i  u.inplete 
■''^^■"'^""   ^"   ^l"-    I  i-^i^li   1-111-  a^    tlun-   ,,nU    M,verei^n. 

l''^'"-ii.'t.K    alt,:r  the   In-l   muninal    tran-ler  ol    the   -oil    f.    the    .  mw  n   of 


lii'iuigcliiw ;    tlic  I'/iuc,  the  Story,  ami  tlic  J'ocni.  19 

l''ni;laii(l,  the  inhabitants  nf  tlic  rct^ion  ahuut  tlic  head  of  the  Hay  had  lucii 
suniiniHK  (I  to  take  the  oatii  ol  aliei^iancc  to  tlie  lav^li^h  <Jiieen  Ammc  witliiii 
a  year.  I  hi-.  the\  deelined  to  do,  |)le;'(hn;^  \arious  reasons,  and  proposinj^ 
to  lea\e  the  eoimtiA  iat!ie'-  tliaii  consent,  |iirlia|is  in  j^ood  laitli,  or  |iossibly 
tliinkin,;  that  the  ;^o\irninent  wouhl  be  I'rij^^htened  into  tlic  eoneessioiis  which 
lliev  .iskttl  lor.  Alter  the  vear  had  elapsed  uhieh  was  allouetl  tlicni  lor 
ni.dsin;,;  ihcii'  dei  i^ion,  liie\  |ileaded  other  reasons,  a-^  their  tear  of  the  dis- 
pleasure' of  the  Inilian-,  proles-.in;^  ineanuhile  the  pur|josc  to  live  as  faithful 
subjects  of  the  liv^h^h  ciown,  oids  ciitieatiiiL;'  not  to  be  compelled  to  withdraw 
their  allegiance  from  the  (iniiut  Moiiarqiic.  i^y  sufferance  and  delay,  which 
wa-i  perha]i->  more  creditable  to  the  kindness  than  to  either  the  eneri;y  or  the 
state->man^hi|i  of  the  colonial  l;o\  (.'rnment,  the\-  had  accpiired  an  anom.dous 
position  in  relai  1  to  the  lav^li^h  crown,  and  beim^  tolerated  in  their  position, 
became  knowr   .i-^  "The   brenJi   NeutraK." 

I'raeticallv  almost  the  entire  |io])ulation  of  the  colony  and  all  iho^e  who 
cultivated  the  soil  h.id  persi^tentK-  refused  to  take  the  oath  of  alle;^iance  or 
to  acknouled;^e  .ui\  obligation  to  the  existiii;^  i^oNernment,  which  should  bind 
their  consciences.  The  evidence  was  also  abundant  and  o\  erwhelniim^-  that 
the\  were  animated  b\  some  common  uiulersl;'.ndin;^,  which  was  inspired  by 
their  religious  and  |>atriotic  sentiments,  that  the  baii^lish  ;^c)\ernment  was 
ne\er  to  be  reeo;.;iH/ed  bv  themselves  as  supreme.  Ihey  were  not  only  ani- 
m.itcd  b\  the  ho])e  and  assurance  that  the  I'rench  authority  would  be 
re-established,  but  tlic\  had  been  tau-ht  and  had  learned  to  believe  that 
their  dut\'  to  their  ( iod  and  their  kini;'  forbade  them  to  transfer  their  allei^iance 
to  the   l'!n;4lish  sovereign. 

Those  who  iusiifs  their  final  refusal  to  take  the  oath  when  it  was  solemnly 
re(iuiied  some  thirt\  \ears  afterwards,  and  charL^e  the  Fav^lish  i^ovcrnment  and 
the  pro\iiuial  officials  with  injustice  and  cruelty,  insist  that  the  acciuiescencc 
of  the  crown  and  the  officials  in  their  |)re\ious  refusals  and  delays  lor  more 
than  tliirt\-  \ears  was  itself  a  tacit  consent  to  the  position  which  the\  had 
assumed,  whit  h  was  ec|uivalent  to  a  solemn  treaty.  'The  neulr.ils  were  a  rutle 
ami  simple  people,  scarcely  neetlini;-  and  certainly  not  possessiiiij;  any  civil 
on;anization  for  their  communes  or  \illai;es,  and  tindini;-  in  their  priests  all 
the  inai;istrates  whom  thc\-  needed — a  |)eo])le  without  arts,  without  letters,  but 


20 


l-hiiiii^r/iiic :    tin-  /'/,i,r.  ///,■  .s/.'/;i'.  atui  the  IWiu, 


not  with.uit  m.iniui-.  uliuh  tlmu-li  iu>!i.',  \\«.ri'  iii  i  irii.iii\  -him'  n  tiiiiii-  m 
thur  iiilliKiui'.  an. I  tiiulm;^  iii  l!u  n-ti.iuU-  .'I  i>ii;^'.>n  all  tlu-  lu.uiiils  uliuli 
tlu\  roiuin>l  tor  lluir  ]ictt\  ir.il.ui-i. -,  .m.l  tlu  ir  .iiddit  luit  iiui>  iii  i.il  trinutT>,. 
Whill  ir  or  !Mt  lluii  luo  ucn  .i>  h.iiiiiK— -.  tii.  ir  mor.il-  win  ,i-  inuc.  .uul 
tluif  m,iniur>  .i->  .lUr.utuc  a-  llu  \  air  |MiiUril  l>\  l\a\iial  an.l  I'.aii.  toll,  it  i-^ 
not  imiinitaiit  lo  (KiiiK.  W  r  laii  i\ailil\  l>i.-lir\  (.■  Iinin  w  hat  vm  ktiou  «>l  tlnir 
coimtrMiuii  nl  a  similar  tspr  at  iIr-  |iic-iiU  inoiu.  iit  thai  llu  \  ui'n  miu  i-ic 
and  li>\al  aiul  K-\iii-  iveii  tluui-h  llu\  iiii^lil  Ik-  i-imraiit  aiu!  supii-^tiiiDUs 
aiul  oli>tinatc,  that  tlu  \  ha. !  main  -riuK  ta-ti  >  ami  kimllv  iiiaiinci -,  although 
tlu-ir  (.alim-  ini.;ht  Ik-  t'lltlr..  lluir  Jothiii^  inaisr,  aiul  tlu  ir  |in-.(>n-  imattiai- 
livc.  That  tlu\  wnc  iiuloKnt  aiul  untiiti-rprism-  \\c  iiia\  \  i  r\  ia-il\  IhIum', 
anil  \rt  ina\  ira-oiialiK  hold  that  with  all  tlu  ir  sloth,  aii-l  tluii  Mmtrntccl 
.uul  narrow  i,;noraiui',  tlu\  ini^ht  In,'  aiiimatnl  bs  pulN,  lo\alt\  and  luxe 
toward   ( .od  and    man, 

riiL-ir  Irar  of  tlu-  Indian^  mi-ht  ha\i-  ln'i'ii,  .\Ui\  doiilitK'--s  wa-.  at  tunes, 
inlrnsf,  ,md  al\\.i\s  ,i  ^ontrollm.;  inoti\r,  wlii.h  luld  tlu'in  in  sulin'ilioii  to 
I-'rciiJi  ciniss.irirs,  Ihc  lew  j-.n^li-h  i  ol,ini--t-  ot  At.idia  .iiid  tlu  in.iiu  in 
Nlu  1-,11-l.i'i  1  h.id  ,ini]'K-  re,i-on  t<i  kiui\'.  tli.u  tlu  I  iiiuli  .md  Indi.iiis  ii,i,i 
oltcn  ino\id  to'^cllKr  in  iho-c  horrid  r,iid-  uhiJi  h.ul  \i-itid  s,,  ni.inv  torcst 
hainkts  with  the  t.irJi  and  -eali'in.;  kniU\  and  h.ul  made  the  ihou-hl  ot 
cither  .1  thoii-ht  ot  terror  to  mother-  and  ihildieii  iveii  m  tiie  oldest  scttle- 
incntv  it  should  not  lu  t(ir-otten  that  tlu-  A^adi.uis  tlum-eKes  u,re  luhl 
in  siiliie>tion  1)\  simil.u-  tear-,  .md  were  thus  m.ide  the  rea.U  and  sul»sri\  lent 
vietiiiis  nt  those  |M,Hiu.,d  and  |.riestl\  ,i-ents,  who  were  .lani;.^  in  the  seiAicc 
ot'  the   I'renih  ;^overninent, 

1  hese  a-eiits  were  otteii,  Hot  to  s.i\  usuall\-,  (lespcrate  aiul  feriKioiis  nun 
who  would  n.it  scruple  1,1  thre.it.  n  them  with  \en-eame  in  the  most  ajipallm^ 
loriHs  should  the\  rdusc  LoinpluuKe  with  their  Munmands.  ami  \  ield  to  the 
dem.md  o!  the  (  ohmi.il  authorities,  win  h  were  known  to  l.e  more  jiersisteiit. 
and  to  he  li.u  ked  li\    order-  tVoiii    London. 

I)oul)tle-s  the  .hineiit  of  de\oti,,n  to  the  ihuixli  of  whiJi  the  Ireiieh 
Km-  was  the  reLo;,;ni/erl  .lefemier  entered  \  er\  lai-el\  into  tins  jiersistent 
lov.iltv  to  the  {■reiuh  .rown.  l.oxally  to  kin-  or  ihurdi,  however  l.lind  it 
may  he.  1-  alw.ivs  a  nohle  an.l  elevalin-  sentiment,     l.veii  when  it   is  attended 


/iviiiif^i'/im  ;    tlic  rian\  the  Story,  and  tlw  Ihwrn. 


21 


uilli  i'^iiiii.iiui'  .111(1  lii;^(itr\,  till'  loyalty  ol  tin:  peasant  who  is  also  (icvoiit, 
is  iioi)U'r  til. ill  'li..:  .it'  tlic  LourtiiT  \vlio-,c  ik-votion  to  the  iluiith  is  another 
n.mu-  lor  hi^  sfivile  siilijeilion  to  Ills  kin^  ;iii('  his  selfish  j^reed  of  j^ain. 
lUit  \\h.iti\ir  uc  ina\  thinl  ol  the  nioli\i,-,  ami  t'eelin};s  of  the  reliiitaiit  and 
teni|ioii^int;  .\ia(iian>  ue  i.mnoi  i|iustion  tli.it,  iiolitieally  eonsiclereil,  in  the 
es(s  III  tin-  I  ,ni;li^h  ■^oMiiiiiuiit  tluir  |)o^ition  u.is  utterly  imlefensihle ;  ami 
tilt  patieiin'  ,iml  Iniiemy  with  whiili  the  iiio^t  of  their  loimminities  were 
|Kiiiiitleil  to  e\a(le  tliv-  |il.iin(si  u\i|  ol)li;^.uioii-.,  lan  oiiK  lie  expl  uil  Iiy 
the  wr.ikiKs^  ol  ilu  mixrriiimiit  ami  the  Iio|k'  that  time  would  hriiiu;  a  new 
j;i  lur.itioii  to  a  lieiler  miml.  In  the  ine.iiilime  arti\e  inlliiemes  were  known 
to  lie  UsL'd  wliiili  weic  not  oiiK  lilletl  to  |iie\enl  the  so-Lalled  "I'rtiuh 
neutrals'  I'loiii  t.ikin;^  liie  o.illi,  luit  wliiili  tended  to  alienate  them  more  eoiii- 
|iletel\  from  the  |iro\imi,il  .lutlioi  ities.  The  most  eamlid  and  kimlK  erities  of 
the  position  w  liii  li  i1k\  assumed,  and  tlu'  leelinL;s  whieli  tlu\  espressfd.  c  nuld 
interpret  their  persistent  relu>als  and  dekus  in  no  other  sense-  than  as  i.\- 
pressin-  tlu'  siiiet  expectation  that  tlie\  would  \  ei\  soon  he  ahle  to  resume 
thi'ii'  old  position  .Is  sulijeits  of  their  old  kiii;^,  and  to  render  him  aeti\e  si.r\  iee. 
II. Ill  tlie\  sinipK  m.iint.iined  an  .ittitude  of  |iassi\f  iiuution  between  the  hos- 
tile forees  wliieli  pressed  on  them  from  either  side,  their  position  would  ha\e 
been  fir  more  deleiisihU'.  Simple  inaetion  on  their  |iart  would  in  .i  certain  sense 
h.i\e  lieeii  justilied  in  the  eyes  of  the  most  partial  jiuf^es,  and  their  lo\,ilt\  to 
their  .uuestr.il  eluireh  .iml  kiii^  mi;^lil  ln\e  been  its  own  defense.  I  lad  tlie\ 
p,issi\el\'  resisted  the  o|iporlunities  and  the  inllueiues  which  jiressed  them 
to  '^ixe  aid  and  comfort  to  the  I'rench  cause,  llie\  nii^lit  in  the  course  of 
these  \e,us  h,i\e  won  the  iimlideiue  of  the  colonial  authorities  .md  dis|ielled 
their  fe.irs  at  this  critical  hour.  I  nfortiinately  the  e\  idence  is  o\  erw  lielmim; 
tli.it  their  .Ittitude  hail  been  an\  tiling  but  an  altitude  of  actual.  e\en  thou-li 
an  unwillim;  iieutr.ilits.  'I'liey  xwre  in  a  coiueiiient  .md  most  lemplim,;  posi- 
tion, of  which  the\  lreel\  a\aileil  tlieiiiseU  es,  to  send  aiii|ile  supplies  to  the 
1-reiuli  lortress  ol  l.oiiisbuii;  so  lorn;  as  it  stood,  and  after  it  h.id  been 
restored.  I'oiistant  e\  iilence  wis  furnished  that  cattle  .uul  other  iro\  isions 
had  been  taken  across  the  border  to  their  kinsfolk  ;ind  couiitr\inen  who  were 
known  to  be  in  arms  aL;ainst  the  lim;lish  colony.  NKtreover.  within  the 
peninsula  itself,  on    the  other  side  of  what  was  conceded  by  sufferance  to  be 


liviiiijulni,- ;   (lie  I'ituc,  the  >/(>n\  iiuJ  tin    /Win 


llu  IxM-air  Iiiu-  iKtuiiii  tin  I  M-li-li  .m.l  I  i.iuli  .uillu.nts.  ..n.l  uitlim  tlu' 
UrliU-  di-tiKt-  .It  tlu  lu.ul  .'I  llu  H.is.  llui.  un.  th..u>.miU  .>!  tin  ii  own 
r.kc  iti  .>|hm  .ilU-i.iiui'  to  tlu-  luiuh  mt.u^t,  ,iiul  m  .utivr  -^v  iiiiutl»\ 
with  i\i.r\  lio>tili.'  |il.iM  iir  iiKAriiunt  .i^.iin^t  tlu  liiiii;^ii  .iu;^r».>>>in  A 
111.U  .uvl  l.imiid.il'U'  loitri->  u,i-<  wii^tnu  ti^l  '<\\  tlu-  ImikIiT  liiU'  uitliiu 
N,i\,i   Sioti.i   UmIi.   irom    whuh   .m    ,iM.    .iiul   .K  ii  1  iuiat>l    i .  i  U -i.i-tu     i>-uril 

lll>    onk|•■^,    Uhuh    Ullc      lUUU'    tlU'     1'  ->     InllUul.lhK       .liul     (tUitlVC     lui.lU-l'      thc\ 

Will,  -ii.ilthv  .iiul  iiU'ti  iiiui-  rill-  1  M  li  >i.i-tu  Ii.k!  .iNo  ii.tiitK  cllniti!  tlic 
i\iiui\,il  iii  .1  tliiiu-.m.l  \i. nil. Ill-  lilt"  tlu  -.i-i.illc.l  liiii.li  triiitMi\.  luil 
.ilmu-  1>\  ,iiiin..iliii^  to  tluir  ri'li-iMii-  ,111. 1  imIiimH.  inliii--,  hut  li\  luiniiiv^ 
tlu-  liiui-i.'-  '•!  .Ill  i-iitiii.'  m1I,i;^c  llu-  iiii.i>iiin  w.i-  I'lii  ot  tlu-  i-\tii-iiu--t 
'  iun---it\ ,  .iiiil  tli.it  iHa---it\  w.i-  luioiniiv^  iium-  lAtniiu  iiiulir  tlu-  di-- 
(.iiura^in^    ,i-|Hit    nl    the    l.iv^li^h    i.iu-i-    111    llu-    I  nilnl    i  hIimiii.--. 

\\'(  li.ue  I  luinur.iti-il  ,it  -iiiiu  Kii^tli  tlu  tli.ir.ulu  ut  tlu-  iri-i-  wluii 
it  w.i^  -u;^L;i--ti.-il  li\  llu  rt-nhitr  nun  who  h.iil  ili.n;^c  nl  llu-  ;^ii\  >  iiinu  lit 
that  i.uiKl  >.()hini-i>  ,it  |-ji-li-h  >tu.k  la  iiuiiu 'li.itrU  tr.iii-Uirni  to  \<.uli.i, 
or  uaiKl  the  !  reiuli  iMliiiii--t-  Ix-  ili-tiiliuteil  .1111. 'H-  tlu-  j-.n-li-h  -ittK-iiu  lit--, 
till-    ilitluultie-    uliiih    eiii!Mri,i--i-il    tlu    -u\eiiinunt    ini;^lit    In     n\  iri  uiiu-. 

it  w.i-  m  \.iin  til  liii|K  III]-  a  -pruK  inn-iatiuii  timn  \i  w  I-.n-l.iinl. 
'riu-re  ua-  I. Ill  much  tu  W.w  aiul  m,|-\  littU-  to  hope  toi  li\  an  inliahit.mt 
ol  New  iai^l.iiul.  a-  a  iiiotise  to  iiuliue  linn  to  lu-Kiine  oiu  nt  an  eiiii;^r.itiiio 
ioloin  111  No\a  ^M>tia  in  tlu  iier^hhoihood  of  I.oiM-hur-.  .iiul  with  tlie 
eveii  eh.uue  that  No\a  s^iiia  ini^lil  aL:ain  Ihioiiu-,  .i-  it  luul  ollui  lieiii 
hetore,  a  1  reiuh  mi|oii\  'llu-  e\i-(-iu\  \\a-  iii-tant  .iiul  iiii]u-iuliii;4.  .-i  -iiu^le 
t,il-e  move  mi-ht  lie  latal,  .iiul  a  -lUic-^-Uil  n-iii-  or  iin.t-ioii  m  iioitlurn 
No\a  Seotia  mi-ln  li:  latal  to  u'ltii.il  nuneiiuiit-  m  |iro-|iea  ,ir  m  ]i|-(n;re^s 
on    the    M.    I.awieiue    aiul    I..iki     (  h:iiu|ilaiii 

I  he  other  alterii.iti\e  \\a-  ailo]ilr,l  II,,-  l.oM  mc■.l■^nre  wa--  t.ikeii  ol' 
tr,in-i,orim-  the  mh.ihit.ml-  of  -i\rral  \illa-e-  from  their  home-  to  the 
mot-c-  im|H,rtant  of  the  l-.n-li^h  ..iloiiie-  .ai  the  Ailantii  (  oa-t,  li\  uini|ianies 
<il  two  ,,r  three  luiiulred  m  .-i  ve-el.  li\  lainilie-;  ,lue  re-ar.l  Weill-  had 
to  tluir  eoiiUort.  >o  lar  a-  umifort  .ouhl  he  .oiKei\ed  a-  jiosMlile,  in  the 
.-elmmi-tnition  of  a  measure  -o  dire  ,nid  dre.ulhil  a-  tin-  extreme  alternative 
eiifoned    by    what    \va>    eoneeive.l    to   lie    a    miliiarv     neee-Ht\.     diic    iiuaMirc 


/''vinifrffinr :    the  rime,  tin-  Story,  luui  the  /Win.  23 

was  intlicd  cxtiiiui'  .tiid  vioKiii.  M.iin  jii(li;i;>i  uoiild  primoiincc  it  iiuK- 
fonsibli-  riic  Aiailians  uirc  regarded  .md  inatcd  a~.  prisdiicr-.  nf  war,  who 
h.id,  li)i  mull'  ill. Ill  tliiriN  \Lars,  pcrsiNtciilly  rcfiiscd  to  discharj^c  the  iinivur- 
sallv  irt()L;iii/i'd  obligations  of  tlic  inliahitaiil^  of  a  lotKiucrcd  territory, 
|iidmiiiriil  ,1111(111;^  uiiicli  i>i  the  oliligatioii  ritluT  to  tciuk-r  allci;iaiKi.:  to  tlio 
riiliiv^  |)oui'r  or  to  lia\i  tin.'  coiiiUi).  lUii  ohliuatioii^  ol'  tliis  kind,  ol)vi(His 
a-^  tlu\  M\\  and  -.iiiiiiiiariiv  cntorcid  .i^  tlicv  iiiii^t  ln'  at  times,  seem  to  our 
li(,iil->  no  jii^titKatioii  lor  the  huriiin;,;  of  villa^e^  and  the  \viu)ie>ale  trans- 
poilatioii    ol   loiiiiiuiiiiiics. 

riuri'  i->  no  L\id(iui'  in  the  official  doiuiiRiit^  or  it  poil^  that  the  onlers 
of  till'  eoloiiial  .mllioritii^  were  enfoiied  uiili  any  ^peci.il  l)arl)arity.     'I'here  i>, 
luiwrvrr,  aliundaiU  i\idLiiii'  that  --irIi   mea-.iiii>    iiiii^l    necessarily    iiave   l)een 
exei  iili'd    liv    -^uiiiiii.iiA     |)roi(  rdin,i;s,  iiunKin,:^    ha>t\    alarm,  ami    uli.il    would 
set-Ill   to  lie    l).iil).irou-.    uiielts  — if  tliey  uere  to  lir  t\i.'ciited  at  all.       So  -.oon 
as  the   \f---eU  wliiili  were    destined    to    ti.in--porl  the  unliap|)\    Acadiaiis,  they 
knew    not    whillur.    .ip|)e.ui-d    lioserin;^    .il)oul    the    lo.ists,    alternately    coinin;.;' 
anil  ,u<>in,i4  with   the  surj^in;^  and  retre.itiiii^   tides,  the  inh.iliitants  had  doubtless 
be^un  to  t.ike    the   .il.uiii    .iiid    to    bi-    more    or    less    distracted    b\     undelimd 
terror.     .\s  det.u  linunt-.  of  troops  mo\rd  upon  one  .uul  .iiiother  ol  the  \illaj;es 
wliiili    were    coineiiient    to    the    front  or  ne.ir  the    I-reiuh    liiUN  on   the  north, 
the  dwellers  h.id   lied   in  .1  bodv.  .md   pl.u  ed  themselves  beyond  the    reach    ol 
capture.      In  the   xilla^^e  of  ( ir.md    I'rc.  either  because  the   movement  was  \  er\ 
e.irlv   or  pmbablv  because  the  -^itu.ition  ua-.  less   tavorable  tor  escape,  the  men 
obeveil  the  summon^  to  rep.ur  to    the    chunh    cii  iiidssr,  ostensibly  to  receive 
some  communication  hum  their  m.istcrs.     'I'liey  had  no  sooner  bi'eii  collected 
th.m    they  were    surrounded    by    troo|)s    ami    held    ;is    iirisonei'^    ol    war,  ami 
inlormeil  th.it   thev  were    to    be    transported  on  the  inst.mt  with  their  t.imilies 
to    the    lini,disli    colonies.       Little    time    was    i,Hven    to   them    to   collect    their 
wives    anil    children,    and    neither    time     nor    o|)iiortunit\     were    attordeil     lor 
the    disposal    of   their    inov.ible    jiroperty.       Their   c.ittle    were    necessarily    left 
behintl;    man\    of   the    members    of  their  families  h.id  naturally  tied  in  terror 
at    the    first    alarm,    alon;4    the    unfenced    and    bewilderini;    meadows.      Many 
of   those    who    heanl    in    their    hidini;    places    the    awful    tidings,   were    either 
so  palsied   by  fear   that    they   could    not    return  to  their   homes,  or  their  eyes 


24 


Eviuigiiiiif :   till-  /Viur.  the  Story,  tuui  the  /Wm. 


were  l)liiulL'il  l)s  ilc^pair.  m)  that  like  lust  iluMnn  llii\  ituiM  iii>t  tiiul  tluir 
kiiulri'il.  A-,  a  L()nsri|iK'n(.i-,  ot  tin  iiuinlui>  ol  tlic  s.mu'  l.imii\  M>iiif  iiiii^lit 
l)c  aihl  wtTc  tran>|M>ilnl  to  Mass.Kliwclts ;  otluis  tn  IV  iins\  Uam.i,  ainl  otlur^ 
to  rn.'orj;ia.  I'n  liiii-li  tin--  ^h.l|ltl^  nt  horruis.  .i^  tin  nuii  uitr  in. mind  in 
Milii'ii  iK'^iMir  111  till-  \L>siU  iMti>  wliuh  tin  a  uin  ini\\<l(il  uith  uiul  lia-^ti', 
in  tirdi'i  til  in.iki'  ^\\w  \A  tlir  restless  tule,  .iiiM  inntluis  .nul  ilulilnn,  sin  li  as 
were  lii;^etlui,  were  tlmist  into  tlu  ho.its,  whiili  uiie  intpatientK  ilit. lined — 
the  iirder  uas  i;i\rn  to  tiie  llu-  \ill.i.:e  ol  nmic  tli.in  two  huiidii-d  .ind  tiltv 
hoiisis  ill, It  tlieii  nii:;lit  Ik  no  ;^.itluiui^  pLue  loi  HI. in  or  heast,  ,ind  no 
ralUinv;  luarlh  toi  \\\w  (,|-  thildnn,  li  in.ikts  ImK  ini|iir-.s|nn  on  ones  KhI- 
in,:;s  to  he  told  diat  in  their  pronedin^s  tlu  JMr^lish  .lutlioiun  >  li.ul  tolloued 
the  example  ol  the  1  ren*  h  eulesi.isti.  I  .<  I.outre,  uhi>  srenis  to  li.i\c  i„tii 
the  inspiniv^  mniu,  i.t  niiuh  i\il  to  the  iinli,ipp\  \uidi.ins,  and  anions  other 
ol  his  eriiel  and  imperious  .uts,  h.id  limiM  It  (hsii,,\cd  th,  li,,us(s  ol  a  thousand 
ni  order  to  Mmiiiel  them  to  emigrate  uithm  his  ,,un  liihs.  |t  is  m.t  iinprohahlc 
that  this  .Kt  ol  uanton  ouelt\  had  su-i^estid  to  tlu-  l.n-lish  .uithorities  the 
thou-ht  of  iVMirtin-  to  a  similar  me.isurr,  |lu-  l.i>  t  ilhistrat.  s  ,,t  ome  the 
stress  ol  the  limes  ami  the  .le-p,T.iic  Juira^er  ot  tlu  ^..mlui  iKlue.ii  the 
|iarties. 

it  Is  to  l,c  iv-reti.d    that    thr   doamiriit.    are    s,,n.,uliat    suint\    and    in- 
definite m  their  details  n|   the  nhiduits   ,.,nm.ud  uiih   tin.  .nior.ed  .nil.. ra- 


tion.     So    far   as    thisc 


doaiiiunt-    and    reports    lurnish    an\    (Aidemc    tliev 


'■■'inpel  Us  to  con.  hide  the  I  rm.l.  ueie  Kit  to  ,are  lor  th.  inselvs  alter  thes 
''•"'  ''^^^■»  l'">'l''l  .':  their  port.  ,,f  d.  si, nation,  and  tie.iud  like  volnntars 
emigrants,  u ho  had  been  provided  uitl,  m,  e,|uivalenis  tur  their  homes  o'r 
"^''^'-  I""i-«.^.  .uid  received  little  .,u,nti.,n  or  sM,ip,ithv  ex.ept  su.h  as  the 
-ant  pity  o|  tho^e  times  uould  permit  und.  r   the  sires.  ,.t  prualion  ,ind  uar. 


it  would   he    inl.reslin-  i,,  kii,,u   from   i, 


ri^ale  joiirn.ils  ,iiid   puhln    lu-us- 


P.>l'ers  how  these  lorlorn  strangers  ,uid  de-tmUe  eiiii,r,.nts  uere  looked  upon 
^uid  tre,aed  as  ihev  ueie  di^har^ed  upon  the  ulurves  at  Mo.i.m,  \eu  Nork 
•"•  •''^"■""■^'l'''-.  Allthenoii.esandmemon.ds  „f  th,.  .,,i  uhi.h  we  have 
a-patheln    ,md    ton,  h,n,   to   the    1,m    .le.ree.      it   is   evidem  llul   the   udonial 

-^l''-t.es  d,d  ,,oi  uvleo,,,e  iK.n  uilh  a,n  .peeial  u.rdialilv,as  likeU  to  add 
-ther  to  the   i„dusi,.,al  or   mo.-al  .in:n,Ui  o,    U.eir  u.niiiionwealths.  and    that 


liviiu^cliiu- :    the  P/ace,  the  Story,  mJ  the  /Wm.  25 

tlu>    nui.i  liavr  riKar.lccI  thcnsclvcs  as  only  strariKcrv     It  is  estimated  that 
son..'    three    th,.usan.l    in    all   were    lan.le.l    aii.i    .jistril.ute.l    at    .litt.  rent    ports 
al..nK  the  Atlantic  c.mm.     (  )|  the.e  it  1.  o.n.pute.l  that    lu..    thoiisan.l  M,.,ner 
nr    later    retiiri.e,|   f.   their    native   and    l.eh.ved    Acadia.     S..    s.,„„  as  (jiiehcc 
w.is  ca|.tiire.l  and  the  s,i|,r.MKKv  of   liniilaiKl  was  established  in  the  northern 
IM..M,,...,  dure  Meined  i,,  1,..  „,,  tiirlher  ol.jectinns.  and  no  hindrances  t<.  the 
"lii'ii    ol    the    lunilives.       Ih..ii^h    in    th.ir   poverty  and    isolation    they    iiuist 
h.>v    sullered    luaiiN     hardship,    in  their  transit  from  citv  to  city,  .md   throii^h 
tin    loi.i^    sea  vo\a,.;es  in   su.  h  tishniK  and   lia.lin-   vessels  as  they  could   hnd, 
the  ta.t  is  m.t  discreditable  to  the  inhabitants  of  the   iaiKlish  colonies,  that  tuo- 
thirds  o!    these    pris.meis    o(    uar    tound    their    way    back    a^ain    to    their    old 
homes,  an.!    that    it  is  compntcd    tint  ,,|    the    inhabitants  of  uhat  was  Acadia, 
some  one    hundred    thous.md    .ire  .it  presnit  of   the  Acadi.m  stock.     Of  those 
who    did    not    iv.uh    tluir   old    |,.„nes,  .,nd    .lid    not    die  of   their    wanderings, 
some  weiv    sent    in    the  kindness  ,,f   .Soutlum    (..lonists    to  the   j-rench   West 
India    Isl.md.,    .md    s.,nu-    uciv    befriended     and     found    home,    with    their 
co-reli,Miomst.  in   M.irvl.md,      .\    consider.il.le    number   also    made   new  h.mies 
l..r  theniseKes  in   I  .ouisj.m.i,  b\    f.i\,,r  of  ilu'  Sp.mish  ,i;overnmer.t.  and  doubt- 
less here  .md  then'    one    est.d.lislied  .1  solit.us    houselu.ld  .mion-   stran,uers  to 
his   linea-e  and  f.utli   in  the  bus\    p,,rts  of  the   I'n-lish  colonies.*^ 

In  iud.i;in-  (.f  ihi-,  transaction  we  ou,i;hl  not  Ui  for.L;et  that  such  measures, 
however  hum.mels  .i.lministered,  cm  never  seem  other  than  needlessly  cruel. 
Iiuoluntary  emi-r.ition,  espc.i.dly  of  l.iiMe  communities,  invariably  breaks  many 
hearts,  ami  destroys  Inmdretis  of  hapjiv  homes,  |  he  needUil  severities  of 
the  law  ot  iiro|iert\,  even  when  enforced  in  the  spirit  of  strict  and  unbribed 
justice,  furnish  the  materia!  in  disappointed  hoi)es  and  severed  .issoi  i.uions 
tor  thousands  and  tens  of  thous.uids  of  tlonieslic  tragedies,  liven  so  recently 
as   the  year   1825.  ihous.mds  of  families  were  dri\en  out  from  their  homes  and 

*S,-U,lions  from  the  fiiNic  ,Uiim,;ih  ,;/  l/ie  fr.ni'hf  of  \,t,i  .S.v/i,,,  ,;///,:/  h  Tluoiuu  /.'.  Alkim,  D.C.I.., 
(ommissioner  of  I'liMw  A',;orJ,   //„/i/,i.\,   \.  .V.,   C/i,in'rs   .liiiuvni,   /'iiNiilio.   1S6,). 

llislon  of  .-l.-.i./u,  from  its  /ir.-f  Ji>Yo;ri\  to  it>  siinenj.r  to  l-.n^^UiiiJ  h  (he  Trr,tt\  of  /\iih,  /i  fjmes 
//•iii'iiiy,  .St.  Johns,    .Xew  lirunr.oi^k.  iX'^i). 

The  n-J  imt'i  aii,l  the  while  imtii  in  Xoilh  Ameiiej.  from  its  Mseorerv  to  the  present  time,  hv  Geori^e  f:. 
lillis,  Jloston,   l.itlle  llrown  U-  Co.  iSSj. 

The  .te.iMiin  fxi/es,  or  /-leneh  Xeutni/s  in  J'ennsuranhi,  h  Willuxm  />'.  Kee,i,  memoirs  of  lli,i,  Soe. 
of  f'enn\\/:itniii.    Col.    /'/..    /'hiliiJe'/'hiii.   iSjiO. 


26 


livdHi^c/iiit- ;   tilt-  Place,  the  Story,  ami  the  /Win. 


tlu'  h()iiK'>  itl'  thcii'  ,nui>tnr>  m  the  nmili  nt  SiolLiml  .il  llir  oitlir  ol  ilu'ir 
k'lulal  iiriiprii'tDr,  in  ordri'  to  iiKiki'  iHDin  lur  ^lK^|l-l,l|■m^ ;  ,iiul  tlii'ir  hoiisrs 
wrrc  huriu^l  o\ir  llirir  hcuU  il  llu\  rclu--i'il  to  nio\r  within  \.\\n  months  to 
ihr  --i.uUn    hoKhui^s  iVoni   wiiiiii   lhi.\    touM   c.irn   no   suttkiiiit    lixrlihoiul. 

ll.ivin;^    licconu'    laniiliar    with    thr    I'l.u  c   .iiiil    Storw    ur    ,irc    thr    hitter 
pri'iLUid   to  \\u\'^c  ol'  .uiil   a|ipii.'u,Ui;   the    I'oiin, 

The  e\enl>  whi^h  \u-  iia\e  ->ket>hi.|  louKl  harilK  tail  to  make  a 'more  or 
Ie>>  deep  ^nllre-^■^ion  upon  tiie  -eneration  whi.h  uitne->eil  them.  Not  i  \k\\  ol" 
the  s,)l,lidN  ol  Win-low  >  umnnaiul  who  ■^mioiui.led  the  ilunxli  at  (,ran.'  I're. 
an.l  hurrie.l  the  ini>eralile  |in>oiur.  li\  tlu'  haxonet  uito  the  l.oat-  whuii 
awaile.l  them  on  the  shore,  uuisi  h,i\e  M|t,ii  irverted  to  the  si,ne  ol  horror 
with  nianv  a  s.i.l  releiiim-  siu  h  a-  tlu\  >ouKI  neither  repress  n.ir  eoneeal. 
Narrow  a-  u.re  the  suupathies  an.l  tenaeious  a-  were  the  preiudiees  ,,|  tlu- 
l.n-lish  eolMnists,  ihev  uiuKl  not  luit  he  alle,  te,|  hv  the  pitc'.uis  stors  ol  liiese 
Acadian  Milterers,  a-  it  wa-  told  at  inanv  a  liresuh'  hv  tho.e  who  partiupate.l 
;n  the  tirst  a.  t  ol  harm,  or  sulweqiuntlN  .ame  into  m,,re  or  hs,  dire>  t  p.  r-onal 
contaa  with  some  of  thes,  ..rrowm-  and  homeless  wanderers.  |,v,n  the 
Mem  New  lavJ.iMder,  wiio  lud  heen  tairju  Iron,  his  ...rh,..,  .h.Mhood  to 
shrink  iron,  a  deNotee  of  ih,s  .  hun  h  as  a  dweller  m  darkn.-s.  .,„ild  not  hut 
'"■    ~"'''""'    '"    ^^"M'•'t^^     .>s    lu     Iwlened    to    ,1,.    uh     ,„    .,,„,,   ,,„,   .,|    these 

forlorn   exiu,,  who  l,.,d   „„,ud   the  p,u    ,,M, l,„,,n   s,,.,,,,,].^,,  ,a   ,1,,    N,„,h 

••-"I  n,  l;,.t,„,  orlau,  Mr,,„ded  ,a  \.,vp,,rt  ,,r  \.  w  Ilase„,  Ihe  iMritan, 
it  ^l-'Uild  aho  h,  -nKinhuvd.althou.h  he  lMd.„ne>.esMts  a  hard  s,de  toward 
'^"■^''  "'"•  ''""■'■'■''  "■'""  I'""  '"  1"^^--  ..I  the  (  hristi,,,,  truth,  h.id  alwav. 
'^■"    •'"■!"■  -'^M-tlHe-    l..r    th.,.     whom   he   „„ind    wo.mded    and    helpless   hv 

""    "•'""''       ■""'"    ^^■'      •''-'-    "-'     "I    'iH     1    s.uuantan    m    hi.    heart 

'""  ''^  ''■"  '"•'  "•'■''•^  ""■  "  "-  N-  l-.iand  .,Mi..,.  under  .olonel 
''"'■■^^  ''"'"''  ^^''•'■■^^'-''-'■■"J'"-l>.p..ntl,emwnhares„|,„_,,„-, 
•"'■^    '"""■'"    ■■"-I'Uu^.tk.ir   thusa,.!,.,,,.    , ,,„.,,, ^.,     „,,,,,    ,,^. 

"'"•    ^"^'^    '"""    •'    ^'■"-    "'    "--n-l-arted    ^Mup,,,,,,    „,    ,1„.     \>,„li 


anM    <  hiMi",  n    w! 


Man    women 


'\'i"ni    I'liir    hiidund.    and    hrotli,  r.    1,  ,  1                            i  ,  ■ 

loiiiii^    li,i,l    ,,,    MimmariK  dii\en 

troni    their    h.iii,,--. 

"' ""•    ""'i    ■'-    '•■■■ '■'     ^...M     »1M,I,     -U,0,.     „ „,,„,„.,  „,„„ 


livaugcliuc :    llic  Plaa\  the  Stofy,  nud  the  Poem.  27 

Hay  of  I'unil\.  It  would  l)c  certain  to  be  repeated  with  manifold  variations 
and  often  with  the  iiitensest  feeling  by  the  fishermen  and  "coasters,"  who 
for  -eneralion^  have  plied  in  all  its  waters.  Scores  of  other  histories  of 
ad\enture  and  cruclts,  a^  i>  well  known,  swarm  to  this  day  in  the  memories 
and  iual  the  brains  of  ii^  excitable  and  imai^inalive  population.  I'rom  the 
i'cnob^cot  to  Labr.idor  this  coast  is  all  alive  with  stories  and  sii^'uestions 
ol  Indian  surjjriscs;  of  ha/anloiis  escapes;  of  piratical  and  freelxxitiii!..;  ad- 
\cnluics;  of  lawless  in\-.isions ;  of  daylii^lu  attacks  and  midnij^ht  ort,Mes ;  of 
the  mssifrioLis  bmi.d  of  accursed  treasure,  ;uid  of  the  still  more  mvsterious 
and  uusuices-^ful  efforts  to  reco\er  it.  I'.csides  these,  there  .are  not  a  few 
otlur  narr.ilives  ol  the  more  di-nified  and  iniposim;  movements  ;md  the 
lormal  sieves  of  regular  and  n.ition.d  u.ufare.  I'.ul  amoii!;-  all  these  stories 
none  could  take  precedein  e,  lor  its  many  ima;^inati\e  and  emotional  elements, 
ol  the  tale  of  the  simple  .\cadi.uis  of  ( irand  Pre.  d'he  few  but  eloipient 
relics  ol  the  buinl  \illa-f,  which  would  now  ;ind  then  present  themselves, 
could  not  l.iil  to  touch  the  luail  of  every  \isitor  of  the  scene;  and  the  more 
im|iressively.  b\  reason  of  the  be;mly  and  fertile  luxuriance  of  the  sun-oundinj^' 
kuidscape,  and  sei\c  to  keep  ali\e  the  t^Mulci-est  remembrances  of  the  lrai;ic 
e\enl  uhiih  h.id  there  l.iken  ].lace  generations  before.  The  illitenite  .mil 
n.u-row  .\c.ulians,  if  they  could  read  no  hislor\  from  the  j)rinted  y^'^'c,  coidd 
ne\cr  lorc;et  the  stor\-  of  the  events  of  horroi'  .md  of  h.ite  which  had  befallen 
their  aiuestors  and  kindred,  be-imiin-  with  tlie  tireadful  surprise  of  the  first 
d.i\  ol  terror,  tlirou;,;h  the  we.irv  d.iv  s  and  \  ears  of  uanderin!.;-  and  exile 
whicli  h.id  brou-lit  tlicin  at  l.ist  to  their  ilesol.itcd  homes,  to  renew  their 
soi'row    and  tliei|-  h.ile. 

Sonu'  ol  these  ti.tditions  must  have  e.u'K  .ittracted  the  attention,  kindled 
the  ima-in;itioii.  and  moveii  ihe  he.ut  ol  Mr.  Lon;.^ fellow  in  his  childhood  ;uul 
Nouth.  I  lis  birlhpl.ue  ;md  e.uK  home  were  at  Portland,  which  is  closely 
connected  witii  .ill  iIk-  co.isi  lu'vond,  and  whose  |)opukition  must  of  necessity 
be  .dive  to  its  p;isl  hisioi\  and  its  piesenl  interests.  I  lis  first  .\merican 
ancestor  met  his  death  b\  di'ow  niii!,;'  near  .\nticosti.  a  ilesolate  ami  foii)iddin}^ 
island  oil  the  southern  co.isi  of  Labi'ador,  .md  his  own  readin_>;"  and  thoughts 
wei'c  e.u'lv  dii\'cti'd  b\  "natui'.d  |iii't\  "  to  the  stornn  w.iters  and  foL;i;\'  coasts 
which  stretch  fir  toward  the    e.ist   and    north.       Had  he  searched  for  a  theme 


28 


EvtUigclinc ;    the  Phnc.  t/ic  Story,  aiiii  the  IWm. 


which  would  kindle  a  [uirt>  l.inc\  and  move  a  luiit-.  hearl  his  attention 
would  naturallv  have  been  arretted  1)\  this  uieinoraMe  sloi\,  \\hethei  it  h.id 
been  easuall)  su>;;^ested  in  his  traxeU  or  iiis  readiiiL^,  or  the  tiaditions 
which  he  heard  at  the  hresiile.  Moreo\er,  the  suua  whiJi  ue  lia\  e  leciled 
had  n;it  I>een  wholly  unknown  to  literature,  lieloie  the  -itted  I.on^tellow 
selected  it  as  the  theme  lor  J-Aan-eliiie.  liie  eloquent  AMie  l\a\nal/  in  a 
work  ol  hrilliant  tliou;^h  ambitious  elo.juence.  had  told  the  stois  ol  ilu'  unhap|>\- 
Acadians  with  no  little  s\  niiiatli\.  and  dejMCted  tin  u'  iina-med  lia|i]i\-  loiKlition 
lit  pastoral  and  i'rimili\e  innoaiice  with  not  a  Imle  poetic  teelin'^.  It  is  ot' 
little  import  whether  or  not  his  work  m  -eneral  i-  written  witli  a  s,.l,i'r  spirit 
and  a  sound  philos,i|,h\,  ,,r  \slietlier  it  is  cs^ciuialK  unphilos,,|ihu  ,il  in  its 
theoiy  antl  unhi^tori^  in  its  narrati\e.  It  ^a\e  to  literature  .\\\  i.kal  piaure 
ot  a  sim])le  people,  who  h.ul  tor  -eneration-^  dwelt  .iparl  lioni  the  corruptions 
ol  uvili/ed  s,Hiet\  in  almost  prinies.tl  mn.Keiue  and  iK^ue.  and  upon  whom 
Nature  had  lavished  her  nio-t  abundant  trcisuies  o\  land  and  se.i.  .it  tlu-  le.ist 
cxjKiise  ot'  labor  and  torethou-lit.  Ihe  picture  of  their  umdition  and  the 
story  ot  their  late  mi-ht  both  have  been  ..verdrawn:  but  it  w.is  .,t  once  attrac- 
tive and  ehuiuent.  .md  it  was  a  uni.|Ue  ac-iuisUion  to  the  treasures  of  i,iu;^,n.itive 
sentiment. 

I'he  di.tm^ui.hed  hi--nrian  of  the  Tnited  States  who  knows  well  how  f. 
enliven  the  snber  pn„e  oi  historx  with  brilliant  .md  moMU:;  pictures  lor  the 
ima,in,u,on.  had  lollowed  the  elo.,uent  K..nal  m  ..  still  m„re  vivid  ,.ml  touch- 
'n^  delineation  of  the  beautiuil  luc  and  luppv  comlit.„n  o,  thn  simple  people 
belore  the  s„Klen  strnke  fell   upon  them. 

^       """■    '"■"■'^     ''"-'^     ^--'     •-"     ^'-     1-He„f    Itiveht.    the^      |tlle     ireiuh 
Neutrals!   h..d  been   n,r,„tten  or  neglected,  .md   lud    prospered   ,„   their  se,  lu- 

^'"■■•"■'^''•'^'-^■'-1^    thurn.ord.    and    re.ul.aed   tluir  .1. ,  ession- 
I'ttlc   dl.putes     ..,,,    .,,„,„,    ,„„„„_^     them.eive.    .1,1, 
I-.n-li-h  .aulhnrity  at  Amnp,,!.-..       PI,,- 
•ind  il.Mks;    ,,„.!    ,lii,,.. 
"Ut  the  river,  and   the  tide 


lleir 


11     -i.irteU     (ine    .ipjie.il    to 

P''-^tiire,  Wire  covered   with  their  herds 

'■'"-'1  1'^   cxtr,,.,rdiiuiA    eii;,rts  .,f  .,„,.d   imlustrv.  shut 

"■'""   .■lllll^ial   m.u-hes  of  exubei.uu  fertilitv.     The 


•//;/,.,     /,; 


livaugcliiic ;    flic  I'/acc,  the  S(oy\\  ami  tlic  Poem.  29 


m 


'•••ulows.  tluis  rcclaiinccl,  were  covered  by  ricliest  grasses,  or  fields  of  wheat, 
tliat  yielded  thirty  and  fifty  fold  at  the  harvest.  Their  houses  were  built  in 
dusters,  neatly  cnstrurted  and  comfortably  furnished;  and  around  them  all 
kind,  of  domestic  fouls  abounded.  With  the  spinnin-uhecl  and  the  loom, 
lli.ir  women  made  of  tlax  from  their  own  fields,  of  tleeces  from  their  own 
tl'Hks,  warm  but  sufficient  clothin-  The  few  forei-n  lu.xurie.  that  were  cov- 
eted could  be  obtained  fi-om  Annapolis  or  I.oui.bur-  in  return  for  furs  or 
wheat  or  cattle. 

"llappv  in  their  neutralitv,  the  .Acadians  formed  as  it  were,  one  ,t,Teat 
l.iinily.  Their  morals  were  of  unaffected  puritx'.  Love  was  sanctified  and 
calmed  by  the  universal  custom  of  early  marriages.  'Hie  nei-hbors  of  the 
comiiuinity  would  as^i^t  the  new  couple  to  raise  their  cotta-e  on  fertile  land, 
whiih  the  wildernos  freelx  offered.  'Iheir  numbers  increased;  and  the  colony, 
uhich  had  Ik-uu  a.  the  tradin-  station  ,,f  a  compain  with  a  monopolv  of 
the   tiir  trade,  .ounted    perhaps,  Nixteen  or   >eventeen   thous.ind   inhabitants.' •'= 

It  IS  ol  little  import  whether  or  not  tlioe  pictures  of  the  life  and  lot  of 
the  ,\c;uhan>  are  exact  as  history  or  whether  the  ar-uments,  for  or  a-ainst 
the  procedure  ,,f  their  bji-li^h  inaster>,  which  they  su^-est  or  contain,  are  or 
are  not  c,m\iiuiii,-.  [t  is  enou-h  for  us  to  notice  that  they  were  incorporated 
into  literature  bef.i.  Mr.  1. on-fellow  cmposed  his  poem,  and  one  if  not 
iioih  these  delineations  mi-ht  have  served  to  stimulate  his  imagination  in  the 
choice  .uul   treatment  of  his  theme. 

Hut  the  more  dehnitelx  we  can  trace  the  lii>iorv  of  the>e  ori!.;inal  sui;.^es- 
tion>  which  wire  the  r.iw  m.iterial  of  hi.  work,  the  more  wonderful  seems  the 
rich  and  \aried  product  into  which  he  lia>  wrou-Iu  thi.  material.  It  is  for 
this  re.iMin  ami  this  only  that  we  have  endeavored  to  conceive  this  material 
as  It  was  -athered  into  his  niiiul  and  memory  before  he  be-an  to  fuse  anil 
recast  it.  Of  the  modern  Poems  which  mav  have  aided  him  bv  anv  su--es- 
ti.ms,  one  (udy  deserves  to  be  named,  vi/.,  '•  I/cniiaiiii  i/in/  Doroflica:  by 
Coethe.  in  two  or  tliiee  particulars  this  remarkable  |)oem  mav  have  been  of 
service  to  the  author  of  l-van-eline.  We  notice  first  and  foremost  its  idyllic 
character,  and  the  stren-th   and    tli-nity  with  which  it  conceives  the  incidents 

*  c;.  luin,>,<Jt,  J/isUoy  ,.J  !/„■  C/ii/,,/  S^<i/,s,  :v/.  ///..  ,/,.i/:  viii.     Kivin./ c/itiuti. 


30 


Evangeline;   the  P/uee,  the  Story,  aiui  the  J  Win. 


aiiil  attc\tioii>  ol  luimhlt.'  life:  sccdiuI,  iho  similar  cxpcriciur  of  .i  coiiiniuiiit\ 
(!n\cn  out  Irom  tlu'ir  homes  on  .kiouiit  ot'  tluir  rcli-ioiis  f.iilh  :  lliinl,  the 
coiUia>tccl  ami  pitlurcsquo  intn\ -t  of  a  talc  of  love  in  liuiuliK'  life;  and  toiirtli, 
the  Mieee->tul  Use  of  the  hexameter  veise,  an  a.lmualile  vehiJe  for  the  tle- 
hneation  of -iiiiple  manneiN  ami  dome->tK  lo\e.  We  eannot  suppose  I.on^fcllou 
to  have  been  unae(|uamte.l  with  thi>  poem,  nor  knoum-  it,  not  to  liave  heeii 
instructed  ami  animated  hv  it-  \aneil  su--e>ti\  eiiess  ujuii  he  had  eonecJM'd 
the  thou-ht  of  I'van-eline,  and  puipoMd  to  u>e  the  Aeadi.m  .tory  a^  a  pni'tk 
theme. 

The  skill  with  whkh  I  Used  and  applied  the  resources  of  his  theme 
cannot  he  eas.iv  .werpr.used.  Ihe  :;emus  whuh  led  hiin  to  set  apart  I'van.^eliiU' 
as  the  central  figure,  and  t-  hold  her  ex  er  in  tlu'  foiv^^iound  .,f  the 
succes.ne  scenes  throu-h  whidi  he  leads  her  m  her  patient  Imt  sad  ,ind  wears 
pil-rinu:,e,  fmds  a  sMupaihetic  response  m  the  mmd  and  heart  ot  ever> 
reader. 

Tlu-  in:,enuii;,  ulth  uhuh  the  author  .ivaiK  him.elf  ol  the  opportunits  t.. 
I'-''"'  '''^  ^•"•'^■''  '"'■  •'">!  ^'  .^IH.de  to  die  divers.hed  llls.o,.  ot  ,he  iwijlsh 
colonies,  uhiJi  lud  l.een  pkutted  ..Ion,  the  Atlantu  coast,  ,.nd  sets  them  m 
iHaures,,ue  ,ind  v.iried  ..ntrist  uith  oik  another  ,md  ui,h  the  ireiKl,  and 
Spanish  l„e.  uhuh  tlourish.d  so  Uixui  lantK  on  the  hanks  o,  the  M,s,ss,pp,  ,. 
-''nn-ahle,nthe.omept,o„,.„U,..,„„,  Ihis  van.-d  vet  stnkm.U  AmeiK.m 
clur.uteroMhepoem,.omiiu:mled  the  poem  iron,  the  .1,.,.  „,  ,, ,,,  ,,„,  ,„, 
'^  '"''^""'"  •^■'^'"•'  '^^  '^  '-  '-''  ■'  -'V  lor  ,t  to  hundreds  of' ,hoUs,.nds 
«"  A.nen.m  hcuK  P  s,,ould  1h  rcKinhered  that  ,u  the  tunc  u  he,  these 
^•^^"^''-'''■'■-'■'■-•''''''--,mal,o,omesh,e,  ,eveh,peda.lu^^^^^ 
^:''^  ~''"-^^'\'';"— 1  dK  -thor  u.th  .re.it  truth  ,, ml  -kill  has  m,.de 
.       '"     '"^^'"'-tan....  h^    a  s.,,,.  o|  „Ust,,■l^    portr.uts.  u  |„,  1,  ,„,   „,, 

">'"■'■    -"'aive,    the     more    ,i„  ident.ilh^     thev    ,uv  ,.,ven         11,  l 

,  •'    '"'■   .->'\'^"-        i  he    soher    student 

■  ,;"7:"'  :'•'" ^-  "'•'"''  "•-■..■:...,.  u,  ,„„i  o  ,v,,.,  V,.. 

;:;  ;  '"'■":  '"—"■'  """'■" ' ■'" "- .>  -n.. .,. ., , ,:, 

\  ai  lei     .1   sei'U's  i  ii    i  ,i,  tin-  •        r        i  i 

,-„,„„„.,. 

.,'"■  "'^  ^-■";"- 1....IU..  .„„,  ,„„ .1,,.  UK.  „„„„„,,„,.,,„,,  „,,„„„ 

1  he     pi,em     .i„aks     lor    It,,. I,         Ml     I  "  nut  11. 

'  ^"-     ^"    '"■""^^    — ^   t"    .tsadmirahle    si,,,,,,,,,, 


Evangeline ;    the  /'/me,  t/ie  S/ofv,  <iin/  t/ie  /Win. 


31 


and  its  movin,^'  tcnclciiiess.  I'cw  creations  of  the  kind,  if  anv,  have  l)ccn 
accci)tccl  so  iiiiivLisally  as  hleiuhii.t;  the  ideal  with  tlie  real,  as  the  portrait 
of    livaiij^eiinc    ackiiowiedned   at   once   and   hy  all, 

"As   a    cR-aturc    not   too   l)rioht   and    ^chkI, 
I'or    litiMian    ii.iliin's    daily    food, — 

And    yet    a   spirit    still    and    l)rii;lit, 
Willi    siiincthiiiL;    of  ani^fclic    lii,dit." 

1  he  |)resence  in  thousand-,  of  American  homes  of  l-aetl's  iileal  portrait 
of  diis  ideal  |)ersona-e,  is  a  movin-  tribute  to  the  -cniiis  of  the  poet,  and 
evidence   ol    the  a|)pieciati\  e  s\inp.ilhy  of   his   thousands  of  reailers. 

It  is  almost  Liniuccs>ary  to  ^i)eak  of  the  elevated  conceptions  of  fidelity 
to  |)li!;hted  and  cherished  lo\e,  of  ])atience,  submission  ;ind  hope  under 
calamit\,  and  of  faith  in  ( .od,  uliiih  aie  e\er>\\here  set  forth  in  this  |)oem. 
1  he  sweet  aroma  ol  ;^enlle  u;ootlness  sustainetl  and  renewed  In  an  unobtrusive 
faith,  ,ue  all  the  more  lo\ely  when  diffused  throuoh  the  lowK  \allevs  of 
humble  lite,  and  sjirin-  up  from  the  hard  and  thorn\-  ])aths  of  jirotracted 
dis,i])pointment  ami  bitter  orief  The  imposin-  rites,  the  frank  confessions, 
the  severe  penances,  the  conlidim^  trust,  and  the  un(|uestionin;^'  obedience 
ol  the  church  of  I{\an;^iline — its  self-den\  in;,;  pricsthootl,  and  its  care  for  the 
sick  and  lorlorn  .uid  dyin- — the  m\stic  bond  of  Christi.m  brotherhood,  undei' 
which  the  lich  and  poor  meet  to;^ether  as  well  in  its  cathetlrals  as  in  its 
hovels,  as  truly  in  it-  most  el.iborate  ;is  in  its  simplest  worship — these  antl 
maniloKl  other  poetic  material  are  used  In  the  poet  with  skillful  effect,  from 
the  first  j)icture  which  he  L^iws  us  of  cheerful  worship  in  Acadia,  to  the  last 
tleath  scene  in  a  ho-^pil.il,  which  he  dr.iws  of  ( labriel,  mn-sctl  1)\'  a  sister  of 
chaiit\.  Skilltid  as  l.ont^fellow  in  man\  other  of  his  poems  has  shown  himself 
in  his  Ireipienl  use  of  the  .ilumd.mt  m.tterial  furnished  b\  this  church  for 
S|)ectacular  elfect,  lor  spiritual  ele\,ition  and  emotional  appeals,  he  h.is  nowhere 
show  II   himself  more  completeK  a  mastei'  in   this  direction   than   in   bAani;eline. 

The  final  scene  is  in  some  sense  a  triumph  of  faith  .md  hope.  While 
it  has  more  of  pl.iintive  pathos  than  of  jubilant  triumph,  it  yet  lifts  the 
thouo'his  ami  affections  to  the  purer  .and  more  satislyiuL;'  joys  of  the  life 
immort.d.  JMom  be^jinnini;  to  end  the  reader  cannot,  if  he  woidd,  and  would 
not  if  he  ct)uld,  desire  to  abate  one  jot  from   the  strt)n^  antl  deep  conviction 


32  Eviuigf/iiic ;    the  Place,  the  Storv.  .nn/  the  Pocnt. 

wliich  i^atliLMs  >tr«.n};tli  Irom  cncia  paj^e'  ot'  tlii^  (kliinatum  <.^i  iialicnt  submis- 
sion am!  KUirai^tous  lite— L;atlurs  strciv^th  1>\  what  il  IitiN  on,  a\\k\  triiim|ilis 
at  the  last.  'Ilurc  arc  tew  ywm^  in  whiih  t!u'  ima,i;iiiation  in  its  tcclinj; 
s\ni|)ath\-  ■'too])>  inoie  i;ra(.et\ill\  to  liie  lowliest  Ininiility,  or  in  its  coiitidcnt 
ole\ation  >oars  more  naturall\  mlo  serajihie  hope  than  it  ilocs  in  tlli^  truly 
Christian   Ul\l. 

it",  as  Lord  iuKdii  ha-'  observed,  |ioetr\  h.i^alwa\'-  |ii^tl\  Wx'W  esteemed 
as  hein;^  >omethii\i4  eli\ine.  l)eeau->e  it  ele\ate->  the  soul  alio\e  the  meanness, 
the  sordiilness,  and  the  selti^hneN--  ol'  realit\.  thi--  i--  eniinentU  true  of  muIi  a 
jioeni  a-'  J-Aanj^eline.  All  who  read  it  eani'.ot  tail  to  teel  that  it  iionors, 
di-nitie^,  and  exalt--  that  lo\e  ot  nature  uhiih  i-  at  oiue  the  ehiete->t  and  the 
nio^l  sati--t\in^"  ot'  the  deli-hts  ot'  lite;  that  it  Jieri>lu'->  tho-i-  al't'eetion^  to 
kindred,  and  to  home,  which  open  to  u>  our  ]iuie-'t  joN -> ;  that  :t  --tren'^thcns 
that  allei^iance  to  dut\  which  eiinolile-.  the  meaiu--t  and  the  lowliest  condition, 
and  enlorce-'  that  tru^t  in  (iod  which  make-,  the  d,u'ke--t  liour^  ot  lite  the 
l)ri;^lite>t.  it  wa>  to  the-e  noble  u-e>  ol'  the  poetic  ^it't  that  the  j^reat  and 
i^dod  poet,  -o  latel\  taken  trom  us  ,uid  ^o  --inceriK  mourned,  con--ecrated 
the  di\ine  ;^it't  which  he  so  taithtulK  iulti\aicd,  ami  which  he  nt\er  more 
lelicitou-l\  applied  than  in  tlu'  deli;^luiul  iil\l  which  lia^  tran->t'erred  the  thoughts 
anil  at't'ections  ol' so  man\-  leaders  to  the  x.dley  nt'  Ac.idia  ,ind  the  i',a\  dI'  I'undw 

■■  .X--    till-    .iin[.k:    miHiii, 
in    thf'    (lii-|i   siillni -.-    c,|    ,1    Slimmer   vww. 
Rising;    111  iiind   a   thick    .iiiii    lot'tv    -riAr, 
I'liirns    like    .m    iincniNiiinin-    t'irr    ol'  li;^lu 
In    Uii-    -rciii    trri-s;    and    kiii'ilinL;    ml    , ill  sides 
'Ihirir    leaty    iiiiikra-c,    turns    iIk/    ilusi<s'    \cil 
Into    a    siihst.im  (•    ;^loriiins    as    h' r    dun. 
N  i-a,    with    hiT   (iwii    intciriKjrati-il,    i,y    pnwcr 
Caiiaciuus    ami    si-nni-.      Like    (mwcr    ahiilcs 
In    ni.in's    eel.  stial    s]  irit  ;    \  irtue    thus 
Sits    lortli    .iiul    ma-nilirs    herself;    thus    feeds 
A    calm,    ;i    l.e.uititul    and    silent    lire, 
Itoii!    the    encuml. ranees   of   iiKirtal    lite, 
Itoiii    errnr.    dis,i])[K,intmint      n,iy    from    Ljuilt. 
And    soinetimis.    so    relentiiiL;   justice    wills, 
iToni    ]i,di),ihle    opjjression    of  des])air." 


P?N,    t    '""■ 


.  .VSj/  - 


^M'^l 


vV.   ^^■■^ 


*5l^^^ 


^ii^ 


